by Sarah Makela
After a few moments, she reached for something in her basket, and it almost made me jump to attention. “Don’t rush with the basket. I’m aware of the knife you’re trying to hide. While I doubt you’ve been sent here to kill me, I still don’t know who to trust,” I said, keeping my voice low to prevent any nearby guards from listening in.
Tabitha gave me a soft smile. “Maybe there is more to you than meets the eye.” She gave me an appraising look. “Has anyone hurt you? Some of the mercenaries had poisoned blades, and Sir Alan wanted me to ensure you didn’t die before they decided your fate.” Her voice increased in pitch in a few places, and she blinked more than when she first entered the tent.
Telltale signs of her lies mattered little to me. I didn’t care who sent her. I was more interested in why she’d seen the need to lie. “Lies don’t suit you, Tabitha.” I sighed. “No, they didn’t cut me. I merely sustained a few bruises. I’ve been through worse.” I gave a brief rundown on my encounter with the men in the princess’s tent.
Tabitha’s eyes were still wide from me noticing her lie. When she finally collected herself, she grabbed her basket and started to leave but stopped. “If your story is true, why did you care about what would happen to her?”
“I’m not sure. Before I woke up here, I saw her in a dream. There were green fields and thunder rumbling in the distance. She needed my help.” I spoke truthfully, but a few details I wanted to keep private like the princess’s nearly naked form in my dream.
Her mouth opened slightly as a slight blush filled her cheeks. The first wave of giggles left her lips before I could ask her not to laugh. It took a few moments for her to realize I was being honest. “What? Are you sure? I thought that only happened in bardic tales.” Her smile melted into a frown.
“Trust me. It sounds like some sort of bizarre fantasy novel. But here I am. What can you tell me about the princess?”
For a few heartbeats, hesitation creased her brow before she shook her head. “I’m really not at liberty to tell you anything. My apologies.” With that, she collected her things and left.
“Shite. I meant no harm.” Part of me knew she wanted the best for her princess, but I was merely curious to know more about the woman I’d saved.
I sat on the ground and leaned my head back against the pole. I’d been meaning to catch up on sleep. Now was my chance. It seemed I’d be here for a while.
Chapter Nine
Brigit
Sir Alan had been gone a while by the time Tabitha returned. My mind still raced, going back over our conversation and the fact he’d lay down his sword. I hated that Sir Alan felt helpless to protect me. I also mulled over the next day’s schedule. We couldn’t afford any more incidents like this along the road.
While Skyhaven was close, the surrounding woods were great ambush locations for a group of travelers who didn’t pay attention. So far we hadn’t been ambushed on the move, but that could change. Being on horseback was advantageous, but a few assassins with crossbows could do serious harm to the brave knights.
“Did you learn anything interesting?” I asked Tabitha as she sat at the table. She had a way about her that could made most men turn their heads, but few paid attention to the knife she kept hidden under her belt. She’d moved the knife, which was concerning. “Did you have to use your knife?”
“Your Highness, Edward is more interesting than I’d originally thought. He has brains but there’s something more hidden just beneath the surface.” She sighed. “To answer your other question, no. I moved the knife after he spotted it. He has keen eyes and good intuition, more than I’d imagine a mercenary would possess.”
“Can we trust him?” He’d saved my life, and even though he’d a chance to kill or kidnap me, he’d checked to make sure I was safe.
“I believe so, but keep an eye on him.” She shook her head and stood. “You’re vulnerable. There will likely be those who want to take advantage of that. I didn’t get that feeling from him, but one never knows.”
“Of course. I’m going to see him.” I walked toward the tent’s entrance, and Tabitha followed after me. I held up my hand to ward her off. “I’ll go alone.” Why did everyone think I didn’t need space to breathe?
“As you wish, Your Highness.” Tabitha bowed her head.
As I made my way through the camp, I saw the on-duty guards had been doubled again. Sir Alan wasn’t taking any chances with mercenaries invading the camp again. An extra knight was even stationed at the entrance to Edward’s tent. He seemed more tense than usual. Sir Alan likely had torn into everyone on how they’d let down their guard.
“Your Highness.” Sir Orlan, one of my father’s knights, bowed to me and pulled back the tent flap. “If he gives you any trouble, we’ll be right here. Just scream.”
“I will, sir. Thank you.” My reply sounded hollow in my ears as I pushed ahead to question Edward. He was tied to a pole in the center of the tent with his legs stretched out before him. From the sound of it, he was fast asleep.
Conscious of what Tabitha had told me, I didn’t trust his posture. Instead, I stood some space away from him and waited.
After a few moments, he finally lifted his chin up a little. “Your Highness,” Edward said, sleep roughing his voice.
“Are you well?” The question came was out of my mouth before I could hold it back. I was confident Tabitha and Sir Alan had taken care of him aside from him being tied to a pole like this.
“I’m fine. But I hardly think that’s why you are here.” Edward rolled his neck as if to loosen building tension there. Something about his graceful movements drew my attention, scrambling my thoughts at times.
“Yes, you’re right. I want to trust you, but I have enemies who want me dead. My parents were assassinated, and I’m afraid without your intervention, I would have been next.” I paced my side of the tent, feeling anxiety tighten my chest. “My family has ruled this kingdom for generations. Now I’m in a position where I don’t know who to trust.” I caught myself halfway through and turned the discussion to focus on him. “I know we talked earlier, but I need to ask you this directly. Are you an assassin?”
A slightest smile twisted Edward’s lips. “To be honest, yes. Don’t worry, you are not one of my marks. In my world, I worked for my queen with sole dedication to ensure safety. Some people considered themselves above the law’s reach. In those rare occasions, I was employed under strict rules. Each of my targets were dangerous to those around them, uncaring of innocent lives or whom they hurt in the process of pursuing their goals.” As he spoke, his eyes became distant, focusing on something only he could see.
“I guess I’ll need to take your word for it.” Oddly enough, it didn’t surprise me that he was an assassin, but I was quite intrigued that he worked for his queen as one.
“I’m not a knight. I do what needs to be done. You will need to as there’s no one here to vouch for me or regal you with my past heroics. But that’s not really needed here, is it? You have assassins after you, and I was trained as one. We may have different weapon skills and techniques, but our natural inclinations unite us.” He paused for a moment, then met my gaze. “How do I leave your realm?”
“I’m not sure. Don’t lose hope quite yet. The library at my family’s castle has an extensive collection of the lore and history of this world. If there’s anything detailed there that may help you, you are welcome to it. You saved my life, and as such, I’ll allow you to seek out what you need from there. If there’s a record of it, it will be in the library.”
Edward’s eyes narrowed when I mentioned the library. “If I ensure your safety, you mean? I’m lousy at protecting people, but as an assassin, my skills haven’t found their match yet.” His demeanor seemed to shift at the thought of going home. He was more focused.
He’d already kept me safe once, and if his words were true, he’d be invaluable in rooting out other assassins and preventing other attempts on my life. All he wanted in return was access to the library to h
elp him find out how to get home. He had a definite motive to keep me alive at all costs.
“I don’t have many allies here. The ones I do have might be traitors to my cause. Your proposal is acceptable, Edward. Do you then pledge your service to me?” I asked him directly. I had a feeling any vows might be lost on him.
“Yes, Your Highness, I pledge to keep you safe.” He bowed his head to me. There was something more to the moment than I could put my finger on. I was honestly just glad he was on my side. The more allies I had, the better, particularly if I’d be reclaiming my throne.
A commotion outside drew my attention, and after a moment, Sir Alan barged into the tent with Sir Orlan in tow. “You let her in here without guards? Are you insane?” he yelled.
Sir Orlan glanced around the room, as if to ensure nothing out of place. “See for yourself, Sir Alan. She is alive and unharmed. He is still tied to the column and unable to move around. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Sirs, I’m fine. What is going on?” I turned my gaze to my old teacher. This was unlike him. It took me a moment to realize there were new dents in his armor that I hadn’t noticed earlier. My thoughts ran wild with speculation. Were we under attack again? He’d doubled the guards, yet now his armor was dented. It didn’t make sense.
“Forgive me, Your Highness. I had a heated argument with some of our fellow knights. It’s nothing for you to worry about.” He glared at Sir Orlan who’d begun to open his mouth. Neither of the two knights spoke for a few minutes as they merely glared at one another.
“Both of you are terrible liars. How many knights tried to defect?” Edward said as he rose to his feet. He brought his hands out from behind his back. They were bright red and a little bloody. How...? Tension built in the air until I feared they’d start fighting again. I had to intervene.
“Sirs, Edward, stop it. Sir Orlan, what you were going to say?” I kept my words terse, letting my agitation bleed into my voice. They tell me the truth whether they liked it or not. I couldn’t have anyone keeping things from me, not now.
“Two guards tried to flee. Both were young men who’d only been with us a few months. Sir Alan found them and tried to convince them to return. When that failed, he had to take matters into his own hands. We can’t allow deserters to wander into nearby towns and run their mouths to anyone who will listen after a few pints of ale.” Sir Orlan kept his voice steady and his gaze on Sir Alan. “He didn’t want to tell you because he knew you’d be concerned. This happens from time to time. New, untested men become afraid and try to leave. You love your people, but your safety comes first.”
Deserters, great. Not what I needed to hear right now.
Chapter Ten
Edward
The tension in the tent had lessened after the truth came to light about the deserters and Sir Alan’s actions. I wasn’t sure how Brigit would take the news. Her attention remained locked on Sir Alan, as if she were trying to decide what to do.
“Did you know them?” she asked, a hint of sorrow dampening her voice.
Sir Orlan started to speak before Sir Alan lifted his hand to quiet him. “It’s all right, Sir Orlan. Yes, Your Highness, I knew them. Two sons of a farmer who lives not far from here. Both were squires and seemed loyal. Apparently neither of them had the grit to risk their lives for their princess. I took no pleasure in ending their lives. It just had to be done.” His voice was calm.
The atmosphere had become solemn. The kids had taken too much on themselves and deserted. Their only mistake was to do it in a time when their kingdom was unstable. My own memories of serving my country returned for a few moments. “It can happen to anyone. Trainees, those prepared, or those experienced in the field. None of it matters when things get tough and everything seems to go wrong. It’s easy to be a soldier during times of peace, but men don’t know who they are until they meet their own limits. Just because they met their limits is no reflection on you, sir. You did your duty. There is no shame or dishonor in that. Your Highness, may I speak with you alone?” My own voice regained some authority I’d used when commanding a squad before leaving military service behind.
For the first time, Sir Alan looked at me with more than disdain in his eyes. He appeared to recognize a fellow warrior in me. With a brief nod, he excused himself and left the tent. If I had to trust one man in this camp besides myself, it would be him. Someone who could kill without remorse had little humanity left in them. The fact he cared about the two he killed spoke much of his character.
As Sir Orlan left the tent, I walked toward the back of the tent to pace. Being tied to the pole had been restrictive, and I needed to stretch and move around the tent to get the circulation going again in my legs.
“Sir Alan did what he had to. He feels horrible about what he did. That’s the sign of a good man. But I get the feeling there’s more going on between you two than a knight and his princess,” I said without really expecting an answer.
“Sir Alan was my tutor from a young age. He served with my father. When my father and mother went away on trips to keep the kingdom running smoothly, he put Sir Alan in charge of watching after me. His patience has made him a great politician and fighter. It didn’t take long for us to grow close. He’s a wonderful man who swore to ensure the safety of the throne. He has declined many offers of marriage to avoid being distracted from his primary task. In short, he’s the most loyal knight a princess can hope to have.”
“I find it hard to believe such an imposing man was your tutor. He would have been twice your size, clad in armor teaching you history?” I tried out a bit of humor to clear the air.
“Goodness, no. I had other teachers too. He primarily taught me sword fighting and strategy. For a time, I thought my parents seemed to consider arranging a marriage between us, but it wasn’t to be.” Relief filled her expression. “However, life in court showed me the darker side of people, and the pettiness most nobles seem to harbor. I dreaded that my parents would arrange a political marriage between me and some portly baron who cared more about himself than cultivating love. My mother and father always had a caring and warm relationship that really meant something to me. With most arranged marriages, there isn’t any warmth, kindness or real love. My parents had that though. I hoped one day I’ll have that too. But Sir Alan is quite married to his position.” A soft smile played upon her lips. It felt good seeing her mood lift.
“He is dedicated, even for a knight. I was in similar situation to his. I didn’t make time or make any commitments to anyone other than my work. The moments I was able to, it seemed the dread of something bad happening to them killed my chances. It was easier to go about my life and live for my work. I guess I never thought about finding right one I’d spend the rest of my life with. People in my profession rarely do anyway. There’s a lot of danger involved. It wouldn’t be a good life for either me of us.” I’d never really opened up to anyone about my life. What was it about Brigit that made it easy? “What strikes me as almost comical is that growing up I was always told I’d be a heartbreaker, but the only heart I’ve ever broken was my own.” I completed my train of thought and looked at the tent flaps leading outside.
“It’s a shame. Do you need anything else tonight?” The softness of her voice had thrown me completely off my game. I’d taken in the melody of her voice and enjoyed her company so much I nearly missed the quiet movements at the front of the tent.
I raised a finger to my lips and turned toward the entrance. Anyone could cut holes into a tent, but that would be noisy with the fabric tearing. If someone could use the tent’s entrance to avoid attention, they would. With a few quick steps, I closed the distance to the entrance and pulled the flap aside. I held my knife at my side in case it was a merc. When I caught Tabitha’s outline against the torchlight outside, I came to a stop. Brigit and I must’ve been in the tent longer than I’d thought.
“Come in. Don’t skulk about.” I waved Tabitha into the tent. She hesitated a moment before walking in and g
iving her princess a slightly questioning look. The stare lasted a few moments before she dipped into a curtsy.
I took an opportunity to stare past the guards in front toward the semi-cloudy sky above. The fresh scent of rain was in the air, strong enough to break through the usual assortment of camp scents. The wind had picked up, and storms brewed in the distance.
Remembering the dream, I stole a glance back inside the tent to ensure Brigit was safe and secure. Whatever the dream had been about, it led me here. And there had been violent storms nearby, dangerous storms.
Whatever the reason, be it destiny, coincidence, or something more, I didn’t care. Being close to her made me feel it was worth leaving my life on hold. My job in London could wait.
This was a whole new world. I had someone to protect. I’d do that until I’d reached the castle’s library. When we reached that point, I’d see what my choices were.
Chapter Eleven
Brigit
The journey from our camp to Skyhaven Keep had taken longer than expected. With this assault, we had left later in the day than we’d have liked, which went on to require another night of camp further down the road.
But, at last, we were here. I still remembered when my parents brought me to the keep the first time. I’d felt so far from away from home that I’d asked my father if we were in another kingdom. The memory of his laughter and the loving smile he’d shared with my mother faded back into the depths of my mind.
This time, my trek here wasn’t quite as innocent.
Someone wanted to kill me and take what was rightfully mine. On the last stretch of road, Sir Alan forced a group of peasants and smaller merchants off the road due to the risk that one of them might be an assassin. It was not the impression I wanted to make with my people; some pompous noble shoving the poor aside on the way to her big house.