The Queen's Blade IV - Sacred Knight of the Veil

by T C Southwell

  A thunderous pounding on the door jerked her from her reverie, and she looked at the shuddering portal with a twinge of despair. How was she to deal with Kerra now? The thought of drugging the girl distressed her. With a tired wave of her hand, she signalled to the handmaiden who stood beside the door to open it, bracing herself for Kerra's tempestuous entry.

  The Queen swept in, her face flushed with youthful ire, her eyes glinting and curls bouncing. Faced with such boundless energy and blossoming beauty, Chiana felt about a hundred years old and deathly tired. Kerra wasted no time on niceties, but launched into a shrill tirade about some problem with one of her maids, a trivial dispute that made Chiana's hackles rise. The Queen paced in a circle, punctuating her complaints with broad gestures of her be-ringed hands, and the Regent rose and signalled to the maiden to leave. As the girl closed the door behind her, Chiana banged the desk to get the Queen's attention. Kerra whirled in surprise, her mouth open.

  "Kerra." Chiana fought the urge to shout. "I have no time to deal with your petty problems now. Dismiss the girl if she displeases you, I do not care. I have far more pressing problems to deal with at the moment. I must devote myself to them."

  "Oh, Endor?" Kerra was instantly distracted, confirming Chiana's suspicions that her original gripe had been an excuse to get attention. "I've heard that he's marvellously handsome, and he wishes to visit me. Is this true?"

  "Mend your speech," Chiana rebuked her, her heart sinking into her shoes. "Who told you this?"

  Kerra shrugged. "My maids were gossiping about it."

  "And you were eavesdropping." Chiana sank back into her chair.

  "Is it true?"

  "It is a ruse. I told you, your father suspects that Endor plans to take you hostage."

  "Father is mistaken," Kerra stated with youthful wisdom. "Endor wishes to become my consort, I am certain. It is so romantic! He is a prince from the desert, one of my father's people. Who could be a better consort for me?"

  "He intends to use you. That is why you are being sent away. He has kidnapped your stepmother, and he is blackmailing Kerrion."

  "That he is willing to go to such great lengths to win my hand only shows that he is probably already in love with me. He must have seen my portrait or heard of my beauty. It is just like a fairy tale. And if I accept him, father will have his wife back."

  "He has not done all this merely to become your consort! He will imprison you, then make himself ruler of Jashimari. I will be sent to the gallows. Is that what you want?"

  Kerra pouted. "Oh, Chiana, you have no idea of romance. He will not hurt me, and I will not allow him to harm you, never fear."

  Chiana rubbed her brow. This was worse than she had feared. "He has never seen a portrait of you. He wants to rule Jashimari, and threatening you will let him."

  "You do not know that. It is just father's suspicion, or his way of preventing me from accepting Endor by making me fearful, but I am not. I am not a fool, Chiana. Endor has said that he wishes to visit me, which can only mean he means to court me. And even if I choose to wed him, he cannot rule my kingdom unless I let him, which I will not."

  The Regent eyed her charge, longing to jump up and run from the room, escape the palace and all its responsibilities and return home to her merchant father. Faced with Kerra's rebellion, she was running out of ways to stay on top of the situation. She could sense it slipping away from her, becoming completely unmanageable. All she could do now was order the Queen drugged and removed to a safe place, if such a place existed, but Kerra would be furious when she revived. Her last hope was Kerrion, and she sifted through the piles of documents on her desk for his letter. Finding it, she held it out to the young Queen.

  "This is your father's letter. I am following his advice by sending you away. You cannot defy him."

  Kerra scanned the missive with a frown. "But this is silly. If I marry Endor, he will have his wife back, and everyone will be happy."

  "No, if you do not flee, you will be a hostage, Kerra! Your father knows his brothers better than you, and if he thinks Endor intends to imprison you, then I, for one, believe him, and you should too. Endor wants to rule Jashimari, and we will not be ruled by a Cotti prince. We fought for seven hundred years to prevent it. We will not allow it to happen now."

  "Father is wrong! He wishes to be my consort, that is all."

  Chiana opened her mouth to refute this, when a soft male voice spoke, making her jump.

  "It would seem that your young charge knows little of the barbarous Cotti."

  Chiana stared past the Queen, stunned, and Kerra swung around as Blade emerged from the adjoining room. He paused just inside the doorway and glanced around before approaching Chiana's desk.

  Kerra's mouth snapped closed, and her brows drew together in a thunderous scowl. "Who are you, and what are you doing in the Regent's private study? Chiana, call the guards and have them arrest this imposter. How does a commoner get into the palace? Chiana?"

  "She also seems to have inherited her father's trait of asking far too many questions," the former assassin commented.

  The Regent jumped up as Kerra gasped in outrage and stepped towards Blade, her hand raised to slap him for his presumption.

  "Kerra!"

  The Queen swung around, flinging Chiana a furious, puzzled look.

  Chiana frowned at Blade. "That is no way to speak to the Queen."

  Kerra's face reddened with fury. "How dare he? Why do you stop me, Chiana? He should be flogged for his temerity!"

  Blade stepped closer to the girl. "Hit me then."

  Kerra turned to face him again, her eyes raking him in a scathing glance. Chiana dreaded a violent reaction from the girl, who was known for slapping anyone she deemed to be impertinent. Blade would not harm her, but he would also not allow her to slap him, which would only enrage Kerra further.

  The air crackled with tension, but Kerra's ire did nothing to thaw Blade's haughty manner. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, and Kerra retreated a step when she met his frigid glance, clearly sensing the aura of danger that hung about him. Chiana struggled to quell a smile, her eyes darting between them. Kerra looked a little uncertain now. It seemed that even the arrogant, tempestuous young Queen was not able to stand up to Blade's chilling glance.

  Kerra shot the Regent a glare. "Why do you do nothing, Chiana? Who is he?"

  Chiana smiled. "Kerra, allow me to introduce the Lord Protector of Jashimari, a sacred Knight of the Veil, and my husband, Lord Conash."

  Kerra's eyes widened. "The Queen's Blade."

  "Yes, that is one of his many titles." Chiana turned to the former assassin. "My Lord, allow me to present Queen Kerra-Manu, daughter of Minna-Satu and Kerrion, heir to the Jashimari throne."

  Blade snorted, his eyes raking the girl, who blushed. "I see no Queen before me, only a spoilt, ignorant child dressed up far beyond her years."

  "Blade!" Chiana gaped at him, astonished.

  Kerra paled, her eyes narrowing. "And I see an insolent commoner whose rank far exceeds his manners."

  "Ah, but it was your own dear, wise mother who gave it to me, and for killing your grandfather, too. A man who richly deserved to die, as do all his sons." Blade smiled. "When your father was my captive, only the Queen's request saved him."

  "I know of all your deeds, Lord Conash," Kerra retorted. "But your boorish conduct does you little credit. I had thought that a man of such legendary prowess as yourself would deport himself with a little more decorum, even if you are a commoner."

  Blade chuckled. "I see that when stung, you have inherited enough of your mother's pluck to give a good account of yourself. She was a great queen, and would never stoop to insults."

  Kerra opened her mouth to continue the debate, but Chiana was quicker. "What are you doing here, Blade? I thought we had finished our business last night."

  "My curiosity got the better of me, I am afraid. I wanted to meet our young queen. I have not seen her since she was an infant. I am disappo
inted, I must say."

  "You do care."

  "Did I say that?"

  "Why else would you want to meet her?"

  He shrugged. "I once went to a tavern to see a lady with a beard, but I did not care about her, I can assure you."

  Kerra made a strangled sound of rage, and Chiana schooled her features into a mask of regal hauteur. "My Lord, you would do well to be more polite in the Queen's presence."

  "She is a child, Chiana, and a spoilt one at that. It is just as well I have refused to take her into hiding, for I would hardly be able to bow and scrape to her then."

  Chiana glanced at the furious Queen. "In that situation, you would not have to, I assure you."

  "Really?" He eyed Kerra, and Chiana got the impression that he was toying with them.

  Before she could rebuke him for it, Kerra burst out, "I would not go anywhere with this boor! How dare you even consider such a plan, Chiana? I will stay here in the palace and consider Prince Endor's suit when he arrives. If I like him, I will decide whether or not to wed him."

  "Indeed?" Blade cocked his head, studying the girl. "So, you do not believe that he wishes to imprison you. Very well then, let us assume he does not, and that he, with the aid of his half-brothers, has kidnapped Kerrion's wife merely for the sake of offering to become your husband. Under Jashimari laws, the Queen does not marry, she only takes a consort. Are you a Cotti, Kerra?"

  "No." The girl looked confused. "I am half Cotti."

  "And which half rules your decisions?"

  "I am the Jashimari Queen. I abide by the laws of my land."

  "Then you cannot marry Endor. For one thing, he is your uncle, for another, you are too young, and finally, the Jashimari Queen does not marry."

  "Then perhaps I shall take him as my consort when I am old enough, if I find him pleasing."

  "That will only be in ten years’ time, when you are old enough to rule, and Endor will not wait that long. In fact, he will not consider your wishes at all." Blade turned and walked over to the table that held the omnipresent wine bottle and goblets. "I know the Cotti, and to him you have less value than his horse. Your regal manner and arrogance will be whipped from you, and he will treat you as a servant, which is what Cotti women are."

  "He cannot!" Kerra burst out. "I am a queen!"

  "To the Cotti there is no such thing as a queen. Have you learnt nothing of your father's people?"

  Kerra shot Chiana a guilty look, and the Regent supplied, "The tutor Kerrion sent did not meet with Kerra's approval."

  "Ah. And do you think Endor will treat you any better?"

  Kerra frowned, studying the floor as she pondered the ramifications of Blade's words. Chiana was pleased to note that she did not question them, although the former assassin had something of a reputation as a liar, the girl seemed to sense that he told the truth now. Blade sipped his wine, smacking his lips.

  Kerra raised her head. "Very well. I will do as my father wishes, and go into hiding."

  Chiana slumped with relief, shooting Blade a grateful smile. He put the goblet back on the tray and turned to face her.

  "I shall leave you to make the arrangements."

  Chiana stepped out from behind her desk. "Is there no way to persuade you to help us, My Lord?"

  "I cannot think of one."

  "If Minna-Satu asked you, would you help her?"

  Blade's brows drew together. "But she cannot, since she is dead."

  "But would you?"

  He shrugged. "Perhaps."

  "Why?"

  "She would have asked nicely."

  "I have begged you."

  "You are not a queen."

  "I am your wife." Chiana glared at him, realisation dawning in a cold tide. "But it is nothing to have a wife beg for your aid, even if she is the Regent. A queen, now that is different, is it not, Blade? Are you so petty? Is that what you crave, the power to make a queen beg?"

  "Not beg. That is not necessary. But what else do I get out of it? Gold? More titles? Another estate perhaps?"

  "I see." She turned and walked back to her chair. "Now that there is nothing material you want, it is power you desire."

  "What did you think, that I would do it out of duty? Loyalty? Honour? Those things mean nothing to me."

  "So Kerra must ask you then."

  "Kerra? She is a child, not a queen."

  Chiana sat down and ran a hand over her face. "Damn you, Blade. Why must you be so perverse?"

  Blade chuckled, and Kerra frowned at him. "He is playing a game with you, Chiana. I submit that he intends to help us, when he has extracted sufficient pleasure from his lies."

  Chiana raised her head, surprised by Kerra's deduction, which fitted Blade's personality so well. He accorded the Queen a mocking bow, smiling.

  "The child is astute, if not entirely correct. Whether or not I decide to aid you is still uncertain."

  "And what would it take to sway you?" Chiana enquired.

  "Ah, well, that remains to be seen. As yet, neither of you have succeeded."

  "What do you want?" Kerra demanded.

  Blade cocked a brow at the Queen, his frosty eyes at odds with the slight smile that curled his lips. "Perhaps the pleasure of teaching you some manners."

  Kerra opened her mouth to berate him, but Chiana said, "Done."

  "Perhaps the child's pledge of complete obedience."

  "Done." Chiana shot Kerra a hard look when the girl gasped in outrage. "Nothing is more important than your safety, Kerra, and I agree that you must obey the Lord Protector. Remember who he is."

  Kerra lifted her chin, her eyes glinting. "Anything else?"

  Blade picked up his goblet and sipped the wine, considering. "I may think of a few other conditions as they arise."

  "Within reason," Chiana stipulated.

  "Of course."

  She slumped with relief. "Then you will do it?"

  "I am surprised at what you will agree to for my help. Surely there are others who can do this just as well? Dye her hair, dress her in peasant's clothes, and she will be almost impossible to find, even in this city."

  Kerra gasped. "I will do no such thing!"

  "Ah, well, there is the problem. Already she is foresworn."

  Chiana rubbed her brow, resting her elbows on her desk. "Kerra, you must do as Lord Conash orders, you have agreed to it."

  "But..." Kerra glanced between them, looking uncertain.

  "Or stay here and become Endor's servant, if you wish," the assassin murmured. "I care not. In fact, I would rather not take on this odious task at all."

  "Odious!" Kerra's ire revived in a flash. "You should be honoured!"

  "Really?" Blade cocked his head. "Why should I be honoured to be nursemaid to a spoilt child who will try to treat me as a servant? To spend the next few moons running and hiding from the Cotti? Living rough in the forests with winter approaching? Personally, I would rather spend my time in a warm tavern with good ale and food, and sleep in a soft bed every night."

  Chiana watched the dismay on Kerra's face war with an imperious urge to argue with him. Her mouth opened, then closed, she drew breath to speak, then let it out again, her eyes darting over him all the while. The Regent pitied her, for the young Queen had never encountered a man such as Blade before, who spoke with such calm authority that he made her seem the inferior, and who clearly held neither her nor her title in any high regard.

  For the first time in her life, Kerra was being made to feel like a young, ignorant girl, and she disliked it intensely, but could not refute it. Kerrion had awed her with his high status, and the fact that he was her father, but had done his best to bolster her ego. In just one short conversation, Blade had let so much wind out of her sails that she was at a loss for words, something Chiana had never seen before. Kerra had never been called a spoilt child, nor encountered anyone who did not think it an honour to serve her. She gazed at Blade with confused, uncertain eyes, and he bestowed upon her his sweetest smile, which brought a hot to f
lush her cheeks.

  "Shocking, is it not, young Kerra, to find someone who does not consider it an honour to have you wipe your feet on him? Your mother found me somewhat trying at times too. She tried to teach me noble manners, so what little decorum I possess is due to her efforts. But even she could not order me around, and to her credit she did not try. I defied her often, flouted her wishes and even flagrantly disobeyed her, and all she did was rebuke me mildly. Do you know why?"

  Chiana said, "Because she loved you."

  He shot her an angry glance. "So you would have me believe. But it was more that she needed me to kill her enemies, save her lover, and protect her daughter."

  "Yes, she needed you, but she also loved you. She told me so."

  Blade swung away and walked over to the window to gaze out at the autumnal garden. "I did not come here to discuss ancient history, or the alleged emotions of our dead queen. I don't care what she felt for me. It's entirely irrelevant."

  Chiana inclined her head in gracious acceptance of his rebuttal. "As you wish, My Lord. Shall I make arrangements for Queen Kerra's departure with you?"

  "I do not recall agreeing to take her."

  "Come now, Blade. You know you will. Once more a queen has grave need of your aid. You will not refuse."

  "Indeed?" He turned from the window, his lips curved in a sweet, mocking smile. "And what shall my reward be?"

  Chiana glanced at Kerra. "I am sure the Queen will agree to whatever you wish."

  "I do not require anything of her. It is within your power, as Regent, to grant my request."

  "Then name it."

  "The death of all the Cotti princes involved in this plot, once Kerrion's wife is safe, or if she is killed. Especially if she is killed. I want you to hire one of my former apprentices to do it."