Clara

by Suzanna J. Linton

  “Cat got ya tongue?” He laughed and the other men joined in. “Why don't ya come down, pretty lady? We've been quite lonesome.”

  He approached her while his friends hooted and whistled.

  “Maybe ya belong to the new lord? Maybe he'd pay to have ya back.” He grinned nastily as he reached for her ankle.

  Drawing her sword, she slashed at his arm, cutting deeply.

  The man swore at her, clamping a hand over the deep cut. “Get her!” he cried.

  The other men swarmed toward her, yanking her down to the ground. The horse neighed loudly, rearing, and one of the men grabbed his reins to hold him steady. Clara swung her sword again but it was yanked from her. Hands groped over her clothing, pulling at her hair. She felt one grimy hand slipping under her skirt to grab her thigh.

  Suddenly, she heard underbrush crashing and the men backed away from her. Looking up, she nearly wept at seeing Emmerich, followed by several men, dashing up the path. The brigands broke away from her and ran into the woods.

  “Should we follow?” asked Haggard.

  But Emmerich ignored him as he fell out of the saddle and raced up to Clara, who was slowly sitting up.

  “Are you hurt?” he cried, gripping her shoulders. “Are you hurt?”

  She shook her head.

  He yanked her to her feet. “Get on your horse.”

  Shaking, Clara found her sword and fumbled as she sheathed it. She eventually mounted up and Emmerich and the other men escorted her back to the castle. The whole way, he did not speak to her. Chancing a glance at him, she quailed at seeing the firm set of his jaw. The last time he looked so angry was when he came upon a deserter from their army. He had the man whipped.

  Once they were back in the castle courtyard, with many curious people milling around, he stopped and dismounted. She did the same and flinched when he grabbed her arm.

  “Captain Herne,” he barked.

  The captain in question came forward. “Aye, my lord?”

  “Gather a squad of men. Go southwest of here; there's a band of brigands in the woods. Find them and kill them all. Have the bodies hung and left in the trees to serve as a warning.”

  “Aye, my lord.”

  As Emmerich pulled her toward the castle, he bellowed, “Everyone get to work!”

  The crowd dispersed as he led her up the steps of the main entrance. She tried to pull away but he only gripped the harder. They said nothing until they reached his audience chamber, where his steward already waited.

  “Out,” he ordered, “and make sure we are undisturbed.”

  The steward scurried out, closing the door behind him. Emmerich locked it. Clara watched him. He stood for a time with his back to her before slowly turning around.

  “Did you know?” he asked, his voice dark and dangerous. “Did you know those men would be there?”

  She shook her head, shocked that he would think such a thing.

  “Why did you do it? Were you running away? Were you going after Gavin?” He began to walk towards her.

  Frantic, she began to back away, her hands scrambling for her slate. But it wasn't there. She must have lost it in the struggle. Tears pricked her eyes as she wildly shook her head. Her back pressed against the wall.

  Emmerich grabbed her arms. “Then why?”

  She shook her head, feeling the tears come down her face. His hands tightened and she gasped at the pain.

  Emmerich let go, suddenly, and took a step back. “I have given you everything you could possibly want. And this is how you repay me?”

  Her mouth opened and closed, but fear clogged her throat. She couldn't have spoken even if she wasn't mute. The rage in his eyes set something off within her and she trembled.

  “You are not to go anywhere without your maid and your guards, do you understand?”

  Clara nodded.

  “I will find a replacement for your slate.”

  She nodded again.

  “You may go.”

  Slowly, she walked past him, but barely got another step when he grabbed her again, pulling her against him. He wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace.

  “Never do that again,” he said softly. “Please.”

  She nodded, her cheek rubbing against his chest.

  After a long moment, he released her, and she fled the room.

  Emmerich watched her leave. He took a deep breath and turned to look out the window, his hand raking through his hair. He had come so close to kissing her. He gripped his hands to keep them from shaking.

  “My lord?”

  Looking over, he watched the Steward hesitantly enter the room.

  “Aye?” he asked.

  “I have a new missive from Gavin, my lord.”

  He took it from the man, who gratefully bowed and fled. Emmerich frowned as he read the message. Three hundred men? It was a good thing Asher had a new company.

  Rolling up the paper, he left the room to go upstairs when a soldier came running up to him.

  “My lord,” he said, bowing, “Captain Asher is coming.”

  “How far off?” he said.

  “He will arrive in the late afternoon, my lord.”

  “Assemble the captains.”

  “Aye, my lord.”

  The soldier bowed before running off again.

  Emmerich returned to his rooms, where he penned a very quick reply to Gavin's missive, and then went up to see if Clara was in her quarters. Guards stood at the door.

  He knocked and after a moment, Cassie answered. “I wish to see her ladyship,” he said.

  Cassie curtsied. “She is ill, my lord.”

  “Ill?” Had one of those men hurt her after all?

  “Aye, my lord. I don't think she will be down today.”

  “Tell her I require her presence later this afternoon. Captain Asher will be arriving.”

  “I will try my best, my lord.”

  He nodded and left her.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Emmerich stood at the top of the steps leading into the Great Hall. The captains stood arranged around him. Other soldiers and servants waited in the large courtyard below. Movement behind him made him turn. Clara came to stand just behind and to the side of him, wearing the Baroness' dark blue gown. Her eyes were red and her cheeks pale. Guilt went through his heart and he turned away.

  Slowly, the sound of hundreds of clopping horse hooves, bits of tack jangling, and the stomping of men's boots grew louder on the air. The chatter in the courtyard died away as Captain Asher rode over the drawbridge and entered the courtyard. Behind him, his men marched, stopping just on the other side of the bridge. Emmerich felt excitement welling up within him at the thought of finally marching out to Candor.

  Asher stopped his horse at the base of the stairs and dismounted. Coming up the steps, he knelt and said, “My lord.”

  Asher looked every inch the noble. Tall and slim, he had sharp features, pale blue eyes, and curly blonde hair that spilled down to his shoulders.

  “Rise,” Emmerich said. “Come and give your report.”

  He turned away, hearing Asher give instructions to his lieutenant concerning the men as Emmerich held up his arm to Clara.

  “Shall we?” he asked gently.

  At first, he thought she would refuse, but she slowly took his arm. He led her into the Hall with the captains falling into step behind them, going upstairs to the map room. Servants with wine waited for them but after everyone was seated and served, he dismissed them.

  “Captain Asher,” Emmerich said. “You may begin when you're ready.”

  The captain stood, putting his hands behind his back. “My lord General, fellow captains.” His eyes traveled over to Clara and surprise flitted over his face before he bowed toward her. “My lady.”

  “This is Lady Clara,” Emmerich explained. “She is our Seer.”

  “It is a pleasure to meet you, my lady.”

  Clara nodded back, not meeting his eyes.

  Asher straightened his
shoulders and said, “Seasong was in good condition when I left it. If the residents there are not entirely loyal to our cause, they are at least happy with what improvements have been made since they were conquered.” He grimaced. “I have also learned that many of the rumors coming out of Bertrand are true. At least, the ones about Marduk's experimenting on people.

  “I met several products of Marduk's experiments. From what we can tell, he's trying to use magic to invent an aquatic people to use as weapons. The end results are men and women with fish appendages, some of whom cannot leave the water or they will suffocate. Most want to die and when I took Seasong, many ended their lives. What few are left are loyal to you, my lord Emmerich. However, they cannot stand freshwater, so I don't see how we can use them. Though, the idea of using them is distasteful to me.

  “Those that could still speak talked about other creatures Marduk is trying to create: people who have been stolen away to be transformed into giant cats or dogs or winged creatures. It is said there is a complex underneath the Palace where he works on his experiments.” He paused as his listeners absorbed his news.

  “I have brought,” he continued, “with me a company of men ready to take on Candor and who are more than willing to march all the way to Bertrand. They wish to make Marduk pay for his atrocities.” With that, he bowed toward Emmerich and took his seat.

  No one said anything for a long moment.

  Finally, Emmerich said, “I think it's safe to say we know now what's been keeping Marduk so distracted; why he hasn't been sending his army to the north after us. He's busy preparing an army of unnatural creatures.”

  The other captains stirred in their seats, speaking low murmurs at this.

  “We will linger in Candor, then,” he continued, “to gather more men before the final drive.”

  “It is not an easy march to Bertrand,” spoke up Captain Wilhelm. “Should we consider wintering in Candor?”

  “I would like to avoid that. Now, we must choose a captain for this new company.”

  The meeting continued on as they discussed the new captain as well as other logistics. Emmerich noticed Clara listening intently, her eyes straying often to Asher. Jealousy flared in him.

  When the meeting adjourned, it was already late afternoon, nearly time for the evening meal. Emmerich ordered for food to be brought to them so they would not have to go to the Hall.

  As he discussed the new captain (an impressive lieutenant from the Southern lowlands called Owen) with Wilhelm and Herne, Emmerich looked over and was surprised to see Asher speaking with Clara. Clara, who still had no slate yet, nodded and tried to smile as she listened.

  “Never mind that, my lord,” said Herne, noticing the direction of his gaze. “Asher always has to make nice to the ladies.”

  Emmerich glared at the captain. “I'm well aware of that. Send for Owen and have him join us.”

  Herne bowed and Emmerich turned away from him to join Asher and Clara.

  “My lord,” said Asher, bowing slightly. “I was regaling her ladyship with stories from Seasong. From what I understand, her ladyship has never seen the sea.”

  She shook her head, not meeting Emmerich's eyes. She gestured toward the door and curtsied.

  “You aren't staying?” asked Emmerich. “Surely you're hungry, especially after this morning.”

  He knew it was the wrong thing to say the moment the words flew out of his mouth. She shook her head and left, still not meeting his eyes.

  “I apologize, my lord,” said Asher, frowning, “if I spoke out of turn.”

  “No. It's nothing you've said. Come. I want to look at a few maps with you.”

  Clara gratefully stepped out onto her balcony after escaping from the meeting. She had cried for most of the day after facing Emmerich's anger and now she felt tired and hollow.

  She closed her eyes and raised her face to the soft evening breeze. Someone stepped out onto the balcony behind her.

  “M'lady,” Haggard said.

  Tensing, she turned, her hand falling to her hip but she wore neither sword nor knife.

  He held up his hands. “M'lady, I was just checkin' on ya.”

  Clara studied him for a long moment. His sheath hung empty at his side. His sword laid on the floor several steps behind him. Slowly, she relaxed and nodded. He came to join her at the railing. She edged away from him, putting a safe distance between them.

  “I'm sorry,” he said, “that ya got yelled at. But, it was scary, you runnin' off like that. But I understand it. It's hard, having people around you all the time.”

  She looked out onto the mountains, not responding.

  “And mayhap Emmerich shouldn't've yelled at you, as I know he did. He's got a temper on him, everyone knows that. But you must not let it happen again, lass. Ya have to do everything he says. Makin’ him mad, that’s what got–” He stopped himself.

  Clara turned to him, raising her brows. The old warrior shook his head and the real fear in his eyes frightened her.

  “You don't need to be hearing rumors, m'lady. I jus' came here to check on ya, give you some advice, not to gossip.”

  She gestured with her hand for him to continue.

  “You really want to know?”

  Clara nodded.

  “Well. Everyone knows Marduk killed the king. And people figure he got the Heir, too. But he didn't. Rumor among some of us soldiers is that Emmerich killed Princess Monica, because she wouldn't stand up to her father and make him boot out Marduk. Rumor is that Marduk killed Emmerich’s family way back when and when Marduk turned up at Court, Emmerich wanted nothing of it. He was the Captain of the Guard, and the Princess’s personal Guard, but they were lovers, too. And, one night, after nights of arguing, he lost his temper, and killed her. It just so happened it was on the same night Marduk killed the king.”

  Clara shook her head. Emmerich wouldn't ever do such a thing.

  “I know it's hard to believe, m'lady, but think on it. He's got a temper. I bet he came close to hurtin' ya? I saw the anger in him, when we got back to the castle. Almost followed ya, if I hadn't been sent to find the brigands.” He took a step closer. “Please, Clara. Don’t make him angry again.”

  The argument replayed itself in Clara's mind as horror mounted in her heart. She stubbornly shook her head.

  “What are you doing here?” Cassie's sharp voice cut through the air. She stood in the doorway, holding a tray containing Clara's meal. “His lordship expressly forbade you from speaking to her ladyship.”

  “I–”

  “Leave. Now.”

  Haggard bowed and walked out, pausing long enough to retrieve his sword. Cassie set the tray on the table before coming to stand in front of Clara.

  “Are you all right, my lady? I'll have him removed from your guard.”

  Clara nodded, grateful that she no longer had to deal with Haggard's presence. But her mind still spun with what he said. Was it true?

  “Would her ladyship like something to eat?”

  No, she didn't, but Clara sat at the table anyway.

  The setting sun streaked gold and pink along the mountaintops, the clouds to the west aflame with mauve and scarlet. Haggard paused a moment to enjoy the sight before crossing the small courtyard outside the barracks. Most of the men were in the main Hall, eating, but a few slept or dozed in their bunks before taking late night watch shifts.

  He walked down the long, narrow barracks to the storage room at the end, lit only by the fading light of the setting sun. Once inside, he wedged a chair under the latch to keep anyone from interrupting him. The room was crammed full of swords, pikes, daggers, crates of them, along with uniforms, armor, and the like.

  Making his way around the precariously perched crates, he went to the very back of the room. Lighting the candle in a lantern hanging nearby, yellow light allowed him to see as he knelt and pulled a small bowl from bag hanging at his side, along with a clump of herbs. Water from a skin on his opposite side he poured into the bowl and crushed the h
erbs onto the water's surface.

  Holding the bowl in both hands, he chanted soft words in a low voice. The candle suddenly shivered and guttered, though there was no breeze in the stale room. The herbs moved, drifting in a spiral as if stirred by an invisible finger.

  “What is it?” spoke an impatient voice.

  “I have news,” Haggard said.

  “Go on.”

  “The lady, she ran off today. Not sure why but Emmerich was livid when she got back. Saw it as my chance, so I told her what the king wanted her to hear.”

  “And how did she react?”

  “Shocked. Not sure if she believed me. But the thought is there.”

  “That's all that we need. You've done well, Haggard.”

  “Well enough for you to let my daughter go?”

  There was a pause. “We'll discuss that when your mission is complete. Anything else?”

  “Only that we should be moving on Candor soon. Not sure when.”

  “Very good. Contact me again when you know more.”

  The herbs in the bowl went still but Haggard didn't move for a long few moments, staring into the bowl, a look of sorrow and determination painted on his fingers. Outside, the sun slowly slipped away and night covered the valley.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Light glinted off and refracted through dozens of crystals hanging on long strings from the ceiling. Broken bits of rainbow danced on the floor as the crystals swayed gently in the breeze that wafted through the tall, open windows of the circular room.

  Marduk lifted his face to the breeze and took a deep, contented breath. He stood from his seat on the floor, feeling the gentle energy of the room thrumming through him. A page stood quietly behind him, paper and charcoal in hand. Marduk stepped up to the nearest crystal, peering into it.

  “Archer’s Glen,” he said. “A boy named Tanner.” He moved on to the next crystal as the page furiously scratched out the names. “Summerwind. A girl named Alissa.” And on he went, going through the room, pausing at every other crystal to peer into its depths and name a place and a child.