The Ones Who Serve

by Jennifer Kenny

  Since her first arrival, Evangeline had been someone’s mission. The guards rotated through and slowly there was a regular four that were assigned to her personal duty. She had not noticed it at first, but recently it had become evident to Evangeline which guards knew the biggest secret in Braykith and those who did not. The ones with knowledge of the curse were the ones who watched her stance with a stronger interest. Perhaps they were looking for marks, or maybe they were prepared to catch her before she fainted.

  Evangeline was not sure which she preferred.

  “Eva, your hair looks nice,” Kyleigh said. Evangeline jumped, dropping her hair and sat straighter. Kyleigh smiled, clearly not meaning to sneak up on Evangeline and waited before sitting behind her on the bench. “I suppose you need to cut it every now and then or risk tripping over it.”

  Evangeline’s smile was strained in response to Kyleigh’s words. Evangeline found it hard to believe the Queen had not been told of the attack, but she would not offer up the information. Kyleigh surely had enough to ponder without this newest attack to worry over. “What has brought you here?” Evangeline asked, deciding that Kyleigh’s education regarding security was not her problem.

  Kyleigh sighed. “Glais is busy, and Quintus is away. Adeline has taken to eating alone with her friends. It seemed silly to prepare the family meal.”

  Evangeline had utterly forgotten about such a drab appointment and was glad that Kyleigh wasn’t here to remind her, or worse insist that Evangeline attends. “I am sure Glais will be sorry to hear that.” She said with no real emotion. She regularly tried harder to have genuine conversations with Kyleigh, but her heart was not in it this evening.

  “As long as he cares for himself during this time then I will be content. Time will come when he will need to run this kingdom and multitask other responsibilities. Now is good practice.” Kyleigh pressed her lips together, rubbing them but only sighed. Whatever she was working up to say, she could not do it.

  Evangeline went back to looking at the front gardens, her eyes were drawn to the tree that she had planted with Kyleigh just before her wedding. The flowers were in bloom, and the plant looked healthy to her. Even as she looked at it, the leaves seemed to get a stronger shade of green to their edges. She lowered her eyes suddenly, feeling a wave of nausea roll deep in her body. “It will all turn out for the best.” She said softly. “Xado only gives us the tasks we are strong enough to survive.” She repeated the words that had been said to her so many times in the past.

  Kyleigh nodded. “Yes, that is what they say.” Evangeline looked at Kyleigh, prepared to question her tone, but the queen did not look at her. Instead, Kyleigh continued to look out over the gardens as if she had said nothing out of the ordinary. “I am sorry if you are unhappy here Eva.” Kyleigh looked down at her ageing hands, rubbing the back of her hand with her palm. Amber coloured hair was speckled with grey, and Evangeline realised how much older Kyleigh looked to her. “I am sorry if being here brings you unwelcome stress.”

  Evangeline looked at the gardens since she felt awkward watching Kyleigh not look at her as she spoke. “You regret having me here.”

  “No,” Kyleigh said quickly. “I still think you and Glais are a good match. I am sorry how we let Glais handle it. Quintus should have stepped in and ensured a better reception, a firmer friendship between all of us.” Kyleigh smiled and shrugged. “Glais should have seen more of Crimah, and we could have allowed you to stay here, but I was scared what you would think of such a barren landscape,” Kyleigh confessed with a subtle sigh. “I suppose there are many things that we would change if it were possible.” She sighed. “I should go inside; it is getting colder out here.”

  “I might stay a little longer,” Evangeline said. Kyleigh nodded and put her hand around Evangeline’s wrist. Evangeline looked down at the gesture and backed up again.

  “I truly never regretted having you here Eva. I still think it is in your blood to save Braykith.” Kyleigh pressed the subject until Evangeline nodded. “But others do not share my sentiment.”

  Kyleigh left, and Evangeline rubbed her wrist, looking around at the guards. They had been an odd comfort before. Now, it gave her chills to sit exposed and alone with men who could kill her quickly and without a witness. There was much that she had been forced to accept here in Braykith, but Evangeline could not live in a place where she felt unsafe. Fear propelled her forward, and she approached the guard closest to where she was standing. “Have you seen my brother?”

  “Yes, my grace, Darius is in the stables.” The guard did not smile or greet her in any familiar way and seemed rushed in getting rid of her.

  “The stables?” Evangeline asked. “I do not think the stables are in need of its own watch.”

  “It can be difficult for the horses to trust foreigners, so he has been assigned to the stables as often as possible.” The guard explained.

  Since it made sense, and Evangeline did not want to argue with a guard, she made her way quickly to the stables. There was a distinct vibe to the air, and Evangeline looked over her shoulder. No one looked in her direction or seemed out of place. She pulled her skirts up and walked faster towards her destination. Dropping her skirts, Evangeline peeking inside the doors before deciding it would be remote enough for this conversation.

  Just as the guard had said, Darius was inside the stables and lighting one of the lamps that stayed near Glais’ horse's stall. Indris stood still watching the newcomer was curious eyes but did not seem unnerved by Darius being there. When Evangeline entered the stables entirely, it was the horse who spotted her first. Darius turned to see what had caught the animal’s attention and nodded politely to her as Evangeline slowly approached.

  Darius’ hair was losing some of those curls that someone had carefully set for him before his hearing, but he could not lose them entirely. Evangeline kept her hands to herself, but she wanted to help the curls retain their shape. Their mother had loved them so much. He wore a simplified version of the usual clothes the soldiers and guards wore. Evangeline was not sure if it was a ranking display or if his role as squire called for the differences. She did not feel comfortable asking Darius since he continued to ignore her as politely as possible. “How is Idris?” Evangeline asked.

  “She kicked out at me when I tried to saddle her before, but I think we are making progress.” Darius sighed, looking across to Tempest. “How did you gain her trust?” he asked.

  “I am not certain I ever had to. Tempest seemed to have picked me before I was even aware that she was mine.” Evangeline shrugged. “I have to ask you for something.” She confessed to Darius.

  “I will not lie for you,” Darius said, suddenly losing all interest in their conversation.

  “No, Darius, it is nothing like that.” Evangeline came up closer to him and Idris. She reached out for the horse, but when Indris chose not to engage, she did not try and force her. Evangeline knew better than to try and make any Braykith horse do something it did not want to do. “There is someone, possibly a small number of people, living within the castle who mean me harm.”

  “I think you are being dramatic Evangeline,” Darius said, still ignoring her.

  “I had my hair burnt off in my sleep while Glais lay right beside me.” That got his attention, but he still said nothing. “No one can be certain who it is, and all searches have come up empty.”

  Darius frowned. “How can I help?” he asked.

  “You have no friends here.” Evangeline did not mean to be cruel, but it was true. “The men have been raised together, trained together, and survived Braykith together. It is harder to find an enemy in the face of your brother.”

  Darius considered it. He could see where she was coming from, but he did not like the position that it put him in. “I am attempting to become one of those men myself, Eva.”

  Evangeline nodded. “I am not asking you to start a solo person investigation, just keep an ear open during conversations. See if you notice odd behaviours. Som
eone who rarely speaks of family or when he does he recites facts that sound like rehearsed facts rather than reminiscing.” Evangeline wasn’t confident she knew what would be helpful but was hoping Darius would discover it when he saw it.

  “Is there anything else?” Darius seemed ready to dismiss her. Any concern he might have had for her was no longer evident.

  Evangeline was shocked by how indifferent he sounded. She thought with time he would forgive her for Thomas, or if that were not possible then he would be able to ignore it, but now she believed him when Darius had said that knowing about her affair had changed his mind about her. “No.” Evangeline sighed. “Nothing else.”

  “Then allow me to escort you back to the castle at least.” Darius gestured towards the open door, and Evangeline moved off, walking just ahead of him until they were both out in the fresh air. She waited until they could walk side by side. She noticed that Darius paused, but it was a small stutter before he joined her.

  “Will you ever forgive me Darius?” she asked, sure that she could never make things right between them, but the question was given life before she could stop it.

  “You don’t need my forgiveness.” He told her, one hand in his pocket as he walked. He was regretting leaving his jacket behind at the stables but knew he would need to return to Idris again before he would be free to retire. “It is too late for us to have a normal family relationship, Eva. We’re just too different. Thomas is proof of that.”

  Evangeline nodded. Walking silently, the children from Crimah strolled towards the castle. They almost made it back to the stone paths before Evangeline noticed the ground was clinging to the soles of her shoes. It was the same sticky solution she had experienced in the woods after the attack on her carriage. It felt like the ground was trying to hold her back.

  She looked down at the grass, freezing her actions and staring down with such intensity she held her breath to stop all distractions. Evangeline had expected to see the blades moving towards her heels, attaching themselves to her shoes and attempting to keep her with them. It felt as though tiny hands gripping at her and were intent on holding her down with all their strength. However, there was none of that to witness. The grass was standing still, and there was nothing to confirm the pressure she felt.

  “What’s wrong?” Darius asked.

  “Nothing.” Evangeline started forward again, but the tacky sensation continued on the bottom of her soles. “I am probably just feeling stressed.”

  “Upset stomach?” Darius was familiar with her unique relationship between food and her emotions, although he had never had to suffer such things himself.

  “Yes.” Evangeline looked up to the castle. “But I should try and eat something regardless.”

  “That would be for the best.” Darius stopped just short of the steps, and Evangeline was left to walk the rest of the way to the castle herself.

  Darius stayed at the bottom of the stairs and only left to return to his post at the stables after Evangeline was safely inside again. They might not be close, but he did care for her. If Evangeline were their target, then Darius would do his best to find these inside men and destroy them as quickly as he was able.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  C hristof sat in the trees, looking down on the King’s soldier’s and making a quick headcount. The numbers were more than what Sable had told him through her frequent letters. Christof grinned to himself, correctly assuming the need for numbers was to try and counter their soldiers’ incompetence. Numbers might have intimidated any other man, but Christof would not be so overwhelmed. The rebellion was in a good position and could win this if they played it safe and continued their tactics.

  “There.” The baritone voice of Quintus sounded nearby, and Christof dared to sneak a look around the tree branch at the sound of the king attempting to force commands on his troops. Christof was impressed they had managed to keep their formation and that they were able to hold their weapons ready, but he wondered how well they could handle a real battle? Christof could not afford to wonder much longer. The arrows were levelled and fired in unison into a tree across the path. A muffled cry and Christof knew one of his own was hit and had been taken down by Braykith’s soldiers. Christof’s eyes narrowed on Quintus as he continued to stand close to his men and seemed to be meditating.

  The stories connected to Braykith were strange ones indeed, but Christof had never been one to honestly believe in black magic and dangerous life altering parasites that could be summoned. In all of his years he had never faced a dragon, and until this moment he had not seen anything supernatural about the King. Christof could not be certain, but it seemed that Quintus’ meditation somehow guided his accurate attacks against the rebellion. Watching the Braykith leader, Christof could see that his mouth did not move. He believed that he could walk right up to Quintus, and he would not sense that Christof was near until it was too late. This was the reason why Quintus stood so close to his men. He needed their protection while he worked whatever gifts he possessed

  Christof’s eyes flickered quickly, taking in the scene and coming to the obvious reasoning for Quintus’ current position. He had assumed that Quintus had been hiding with his own men, hoping to give the rebels more targets and get lost in the confusion of black-clad soldiers. That was not the case, but instead, Quintus knew that he was tucked in safe against his guards. In this state, he was completely vulnerable. Whatever Quintus was doing, it took more mind power than a typical man could hope to summon. Intrigued, Christof moved a little in hopes of seeing something new in the way Quintus was holding himself.

  “There,” Quintus shouted from the darkness, and Christof swung himself aggressively back and covered his head as he tried to make himself a smaller target. Arrows dug into the trunk of the tree that he was currently perched on, but for now he was unharmed. It had been luck which had saved him, but Christof doubted it would last long. For his entire life, Christof could not say that luck had ever been on his side, and he would not believe it would suddenly start now. Whatever Quintus was doing, Christof had no defence in keeping his men safe, and the numbers were stacked against him.

  He gave a bird call to his rebellion members, the noise known to signify retreat. He did not stop to see if they followed him. The location for meeting back up was pre-selected, and Christof would not be held accountable if they could not follow orders. The sound of dropping bodies from the trees and running off into the darkness would be unnerving enough that it would offer the rebels the perfect escape.

  ***

  There was an eerie silence that ended abruptly. One, two, three bodies hit hard after the low whistle that came from the trees close to him. Quintus opened his eyes but lost count in trying to see how many men had surrounded him. Stunned by how organised the rebellion was now he stayed where he was until Quintus could be sure that the enemy had retreated. While he had not seen them with his own eyes, Quintus now had a better judgement on just how many rebels he will soon be facing. It was more than he had suspected, but still, Quintus would not turn back. The legend of Braykith would never survive his failure now.

  While the soldiers seemed to believe they had reason to celebrate, Quintus struggled with seeing the encounter as a win. However, they had not been defeated. Quintus reminded himself that it had been the rebellion who retreated first which meant Quintus had gained a small advantage. He looked to the left, but the orders to follow the rebels died on his lips. His men were pale, and their eyes full and staring. He would be lucky to have them move into the woods alone.

  “Grab our dead.” Quintus bellowed to be heard, raising his voice in hopes that it would break the men out of their stupor. “We will bury them before we move on.” To his relief, men moved to make his words happen. Quintus ignored the process, looking instead out into the trees that lined the path. Barely a year ago no one would have been able to hide within their branches. They stood too straight even to try and climb them. Now they spread out along the well-beaten path and gave thei
r enemies cover.

  The new growth of the trees did allow the sun to find them for a little longer as it left the sky, but he had to admit that night was falling fast, and they needed to find a suitable location for rest. Quintus could see better in the dark than most, but it was nothing like how people suspected. He had been holding off lighting torches, but there was no convincing them after the attack to stay in the rising darkness. The rebellion members knew they were coming, and a lit torch would help the Braykith soldiers bear the darkness as they walked. He knew the oncoming night was making his men nervous. No one liked to be trapped in the dark, and they could not be reasoned with. Men were being killed off one by one, and Quintus needed to regain order here before they lost their focus.

  “We will find a shelter near the mountains.” He ordered, and the soldiers had no choice but to follow his command. To deny the King now would be considered treason, and after all, he had been instrumental in chasing off the attackers. Already some of the more creative of the members were telling stories of what had happened here. How the trees had grabbed at their men, killed some right on the path. Nature would have consumed the army where it stood if it weren’t for the interference of their Godly King.

  Quintus has ignored the stories as they were bounced around and was glad when they did not outright complain, and to their credit, it seemed the ambush had done nothing to their spirits, except shaken them to the realities of this mission. They had seen their friends die right before their eyes, and Quintus understood that was hard to accept at times. However, they had also witnessed their King using his supernatural abilities to take out their enemies. As they walked on, the story grew in detail and extravagance. Slowly it was evident that the soldiers felt this was a fight they could win, and Quintus was the key to maintaining that victory.