“It is best for Anna to be here with you, Highness.” Friga argued.
“She may be happier elsewhere. There may be others who know the right things to say and do to bring her from this darkness she’s in,” Char insisted. “There are many lands in the realm far nicer than Meridelle.”
“Anna is trying to accept the loss of her family and her entire world, Highness. Sending her away from all she has known here would be a mistake.” Friga patted his arm. “It will take time, but she will find happiness again.”
“I hope so,” Char mumbled distractedly, thinking over the sad woman in his care.
The gray woman placed her hand on the doorknob in preparation to leave, but turned back. “You have an interest in her,” Friga announced knowingly.
“Anna does not need my interest, Friga,” Char shook his head with a sad smile.
“And, what is it you feel she needs?” Friga asked.
“She needs my patience, my friendship,” Char paused, “and my protection.”
“Anna will be down shortly, Highness,” Friga excused herself. “Is there anything more you need?”
“No, Friga,” Char waved her out. “Thank you.”
Friga bowed her head as she exited the office, Char following her shortly after. He stood at the base of the large stairway leading to the upper levels of the castle, greeting guests as they entered through the main doors. After several formal greetings, Char noticed those entering were staring past him toward the stairs. The vision of Anna descending the large, curving stairs was remarkable and Char smiled affectionately.
“Anna,” Char greeted her by taking her hands in his and placing a plutonic kiss on her cheek. “You look breathtaking.”
“Thank you,” Anna’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “There are so many people.”
“Yes,” Char looked around them at the throng of people who moved around the couple. “This is the event of the season. Meridelle is famous for our summer ball.”
Anna looked uncomfortable in the busy atmosphere and Char quickly tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. A protective instinct settled over him as he led her through the double doors into the ballroom. The ball, as usual, did not disappoint.
The room was decorated in streamers and beaded chains of silver, sapphire and black; the royal crest colors of Meridelle. Tables circled the room, their black covers contrasting elegantly against the silver dishes and glasses atop them. In the center of the tables was the dance floor, constructed from black marble tile. At the far end of the room was the stage, where a string quartet played classical music.
To the far left, near the large wall of glass doors leading to the courtyard set a large buffet table. The spread ran from one end of the room to the other with breaks between tables to mark appetizers, main dishes, desserts and beverages. Even with the buffet, servers wound through the crowd, offering appetizers and taking orders for drinks.
Char moved with Anna toward the center of the room, careful to keep her close and secure at his side. He knew the woman preferred solitude, but hoped such a diverse crowd would force Anna to forget about her loss for a short time. A few friendly guests came to greet them, affectionately welcoming Anna without hesitation. Char could see Anna’s uncertainty fade as more people and magical creatures showed her such warmth. He smiled at her growing enjoyment of the evening, leaving her to greet a particularly important dignitary from the Southern lands of the realm as a friendly shifter was describing its history.
When he returned, Char brought Anna a glass of cava, a bubbling, lightly alcoholic beverage he thought she might enjoy. Anna finished the glass and several others which were offered, each seeming to calm her further until Char noticed she was smiling. Not the half smiles she gave in the three weeks since her arrival, but a genuine, happy smile.
***
The music swirled around the mingling guests, but few bothered with the dance floor. Most were happy conversing with creatures and peoples from around the realm. Anna even admitted to enjoying her conversations with some of the guests. She heard stories about far off lands and magical creatures she never knew existed outside of fantasy.
The alcoholic drinks Anna was accepting blurred her mind, leaving her in a pleasant state of euphoria, but at the mercy of her indifference. Believing her quick reaction to be worsened by her empty stomach, Anna managed to excuse herself and claim a few small appetizers from the buffet tables. She stood near the glass doors, feeling her equilibrium and control returning as her eyes sought out Char. The Prince stood in a throng of regally dressed older men, their deep conversation leaving no doubt they did not wish to be interrupted.
“Good evening, my lady,” a tall, sandy haired man stepped to her side.
“Good evening,” Anna repeated, still feeling happy enough from the alcohol to greet him a bit too warmly.
“I am Sir David Marcus of Drivaria,” David extended a hand for her to claim.
“Anna,” Anna replied, taking his hand and allowing him to place a kiss on her knuckles. “Anna Blake.”
“It is a pleasure, Miss Blake,” David stood and released her hand, straightening his white and olive green dress coat as he cleared his throat. “I was hoping you would do me the honor of a dance?”
“Oh,” Anna exclaimed. Fearing spinning on the black tiles of the dance floor would worsen her buzz, Anna shook her head. “I couldn’t, Sir Marcus, maybe later. I think I need to get a breath of fresh air.”
Feeling she should be in more control of her faculties, Anna excused herself and pushed through one of the glass doors at her back. The cool night breeze was refreshing compared to the heat and odors of perfume and herbs in the ballroom. Taking a few steps to the edge of the large terrace, Anna leaned heavily on the railing around the half circle structure. While Anna didn’t mind meeting new peoples, it was a relief to find solitude and Anna sighed.
“At least the rains stopped for the evening,” Sir Marcus’s voice came from behind her.
“Oh,” Anna jumped around in shock, not expecting to have been followed.
“May I join you?” Sir Marcus asked the question, but was standing beside her before Anna could answer.
“Um, sure,” Anna mumbled unnecessarily before they descended into a deep, uncomfortable silence.
“Fresh air does seem to be a fair idea,” Sir Marcus broke the silence. “It is so loud in the ballroom, how can anyone hope to have a worthy conversation? Out here is much more intimate.”
A strange gleam entered Sir Marcus’s eyes, but in the lack of light and with her mind still slightly impaired, Anna wasn’t able to tell what it was. The man took Anna’s hands from the railing, clasping them in his own, white-gloved grasp. Anna suddenly wished for the loud crowd of the ball over the dark openness of the courtyard. She only hoped she had enough mental clarity to find a way out of her current situation without hurting the man’s feelings.
***
Jake pushed passed several people on the way to the royal ball, his presence going ignored as he knew it would. In a crowd this size, it was not uncommon to see a man dressed in black walking the castle grounds. He slipped easily through the gates and made his way to the west corner of the castle.
As he walked, the grounds grew dark and empty, the majority of guests keeping to the main areas of the castle. Jake welcomed the shadows, moving ever closer to the stone wall until he reached the tall tree at the corner of the west wing. He glanced around the yard, looking for any kind of movement which would warn of discovery. Finding no one paying him attention, Jake scaled the tree. The branches narrowed closer to the balcony, but they were still wide enough to support his weight. A short leap landed Jake right where he wanted to be.
The glass doors to the royal chambers were locked, forcing Jake to break the glass to enter. He remained on the balcony, concealed in shadow for several moments to ensure his deed wasn’t heard before continuing into the room. It took his eyes a moment to adjust to the dark interior and Jake slowly took in the layo
ut.
The bedroom was large with a massive bed along the wall to his left. A dresser was pressed to the wall at his right, the mirror atop it hosting a film of dust so thick it would not reflect. A set of soft, cloth chairs rested beside him at the balcony doors, a short table between them. However, it was the cabinet across from him which held Jake’s interest.
The curio cabinet sat next to the door leading into the castle, its glass doors revealing the treasures inside. Jake saw his mother’s music box almost immediately, sitting in obscurity on the bottom shelf of the cabinet. He moved slowly toward it, opening the pane of glass separating him from his prize and claiming it reverently. Jake brushed dust from the rounded box before opening it, listening to the quiet music he went nearly two decades without hearing. He blamed the prickling in his eyes on a reaction to dust as he placed the box carefully into the satchel he held over his shoulder and across his chest.
Jake looked around the room once more, thinking of the man who once slept there; the man who destroyed his mother, his life and his happiness. King Edward hadn’t beaten his mother to death, but it was the man’s heartlessness which forced Julissa Reynolds back to the abusive arms of the man who had. The King was a heartless man, obsessed with his own wealth and power. He demanded loyalty and respect, but never did anything to deserve either. The King hadn’t deserved what was given to him in life just as he hadn’t deserved the swiftness of his own death.
Jake debated taking more of the treasures from the cabinet, but his own disgust of who they belonged to didn’t allow him to stomach the thought. He wanted no part of the King; nothing to remind him the man ever existed. King Edward received much attention in life, but Jake refused to honor him with any thought in death. With a last, sickened look around the bedroom, Jake returned to the balcony and slipped down the tree.
Once on the ground, Jake could see several Guards standing in the direction from which he originally came. “Damn,” Jake mumbled as he walked slowly in the other direction, deeper onto the castle grounds.
Around the corner of the castle, Jake was met by the sight of more Guards at the far corner of the castle. Looking around, he saw a large wooden door and quickly stepped through it. The door led to a dimly lit tunnel, cutting through the bulk of the castle and opening into the castle courtyard. Plants and fountains blocked the lights from the ball and loud music muffled his steps as Jake made his way to the opposite side of the courtyard.
A matching tunnel led from this side and Jake hoped his luck would be better on the northeast side of the castle. Jake heard voices behind him and quickly ducked behind a large fern. He stared up at the terrace to his left, his breath catching in his throat at the vision he saw.
Anna stood at the railing, her hair pulled up in a messy bun. Tendrils of brown silk fell down across her neck and shoulders. The tight bodice of her gown showed off ample curves and a narrow waist; the waist he held while dancing her around a bar on the other side of town. However, it was her hands which held Jake frozen; hands being held in another man’s grasp.
Jake swallowed his jealousy, reminding himself he had no right to claim her innocence as his own. He decided not to pursue Anna beyond their last meeting and he aimed to keep to his claim. About to turn around and escape into the tunnel, Jake noticed Anna was attempting to pull away from the man in front of her. When he didn’t release her, Jake’s eyes narrowed with restrained fury.
He moved closer to the terrace, uncaring if he was seen any longer in his need to ensure Anna’s safety. He promised himself if the man released her before he intervened, Jake would turn and disappear back to the shadows. Unfortunately, the man did not obey Jake’s unspoken command, forcing him to continue on his course. Jake may be most of the monster his reputation claimed, but he could not condone any man placing his hands on an unwilling woman; especially a woman as sweet and innocent as Anna Blake.
Chapter Seven
“Sir Marcus, I think you may have the wrong impression.” Anna’s voice carried on the wind.
“Oh, I doubt that, my dear,” the man she called Sir Marcus pulled Anna closer.
“I think you have the wrong impression as well, Mate,” Jake spoke from the base of the steps leading to the veranda. “She doesn’t like leaches.”
“And, who are you?” Sir Marcus bloated with indignation.
“I’m a man with a sword,” Jake’s tone was soft and dangerous as he reached the top of the stairs and placed a hand on the butt of the blade he held at his hip. Sir Marcus dropped Anna’s hands as if they burned him and backed away. The man sputtered at Jake’s comments, his face ashen in the dim evening light. “I don’t like leaches either, Mate.”
Sir Marcus spun and disappeared into the ballroom, his cowardice overwhelming his pride. Anna let out a giggle as Jake walked to stand at her side. He looked down in surprise at her unexpected reaction to his threats against her would-be suitor.
“I think you scared him,” Anna chuckled.
“Such was my intent, men like him need a good scare every once in a while,” Jake let his coat fall back over his sword, obscuring it against the black leather of his clothing. “To remind them they don’t own everyone.”
“Well, thank you for your intervention,” Anna smiled at him.
“You’ve been drinking,” Jake stared down at her flushed cheeks, his anger at the situation he interrupted growing. “I should have given him a reminder to take with him.”
“No need,” Anna waved her hand. “He was pushy, but he wasn’t that bad. And, I’m not drunk.”
“You are not sober,” Jake informed.
“Not entirely,” Anna admitted. “But, I’m getting there.”
“You shouldn’t be out here alone,” Jake admonished her. “Not in your current state.”
“I’m not that drunk, Jake,” Anna patted his forearm, her fingers lingering like hot embers after a fire. “I just need a walk to clear my head.”
“I’ll go with you,” Jake made the offer, but knew he would accompany her even if Anna refused. He would not allow the woman to walk anywhere alone with her head muddled by alcohol.
Luckily, she didn’t argue, as she descended the stairs into the courtyard gardens. Jake stayed at her side as they walked through the ferns and flowers, eventually reaching the central fountain. “Why aren’t you in the ballroom?” Anna asked.
“I don’t enjoy large crowds,” Jake excused honestly without revealing his lack of an invitation.
“Agreed,” Anna nodded. “Although, the people I’ve met so far are very friendly. And, their stories of where they come from are incredible.”
“Aye, there are some amazing lands out there,” Jake agreed.
“I bet you’ve seen all of them,” Anna sounded wistful.
“A good many,” Jake admitted. “But, there are still many I have not. The best part of traveling the realm is there is always a new land to explore.”
“I’d love to see them,” Anna remarked.
“You can,” Jake assured.
“No,” Anna shook her head sadly. “I can’t.”
“What is holding you here, Love?” Jake asked. “You are obviously unhappy. Why not leave and find your home?”
“I told you,” Anna started walking through the gardens again, leaving Jake to follow. “It’s too far.”
“So, find a new home.” Jake suggested.
Anna stopped in her tracks, turning to look up at Jake questioningly. “It won’t be the same.”
“Of course not,” Jake agreed. “Just because it isn’t the same doesn’t mean it can’t be as good; or even better.”
“What about you, Jake,” Anna asked, “where is your home; your family?”
Jake opened his mouth to answer, but noted two Guards entering the courtyard, obviously searching for something or someone. He took Anna’s hand, pulling her into the deep shadow beneath a fern as the Guards came closer. Anna opened her mouth to speak, but Jake made a motion to remain silent. He was grateful when she obeyed. Whe
n the Guards passed, exiting the gardens a few moments later, Jake led Anna from the shadows. “Sorry about that, Love,” Jake mumbled as he ran a hand through his hair.
“I assume you don’t have an invitation,” Anna’s statement wasn’t a question, but Jake felt obliged to answer anyway.
“Not exactly,” Jake braced himself for her anger and disgust, shocked when she just chuckled and shook her head.
“So, why are you here?” Anna asked.
Jake welcomed the arrival of the Guards this time as they kept him from having to come up with a lie to tell the woman standing in front of him. He urged Anna toward the tunnel which would lead them out of the courtyard, glad she came with him easily. Jake wasn’t quite ready to set the tipsy woman loose without supervision.
The tunnel exited on the Ocean side of the castle, a steep rock cliff keeping them from the beach below. Jake found the steps he knew to be carved into the rocks and led Anna down to the sand, keeping a tight grip on her hand to prevent her from slipping on the unfamiliar stairs. Once they reached sand, Anna lifted her feet to remove the heeled shoes she wore, leaving them lay at the base of the staircase. The action left her standing at least a foot shorter than Jake’s six-foot-six-inch frame. Her smallness stirred Jake’s protective instincts and he removed his jacket to wrap it around her shoulders.
“Thank you,” Anna smiled at the gesture, pulling the leather close.
They walked the surf for a time, holding hands and enjoying the sounds of the Ocean. Jake stopped at a calm section of water, picking up a small stone and skipping it across the water. He felt a calm settle over him he hadn’t known in years. Jake tried to link it to his peace near the Ocean and the return of his lost possession, but as he looked down at the woman beside him, Jake wondered if she may hold some credit.
Once a Pirate (Mystical Realm Series Book 1) Page 6