by Sam Ryan
Max cursed as she spun back around in her seat.
“What?” Madilyn asked. “Forget something?”
“No, it’s not that,” she said, slamming her head back against the bulkhead. “Now that we’re almost back home, I just realized all the paperwork I’ll have to fill out for abandoning a military airship in a foreign land.”
“It was my order to do so.” Madilyn cringed, realizing there would no doubt be a lot of reports she would have to fill out as well.
“That means even more paper work for me,” Max groaned. She buried her face in her palm, covering one of her eyes. “I was so excited when I learned that the Naval Academy would teach me how to read and write. Now I see that was all just a trap. This skill is nothing but a curse.”
“It’ll be fine,” Madilyn assured. “They might even give you a medal. You are probably the first woman in the history of the navy to see not one but two air battles.”
“Only we can’t talk about the second one,” Max pointed out.
“True.” Madilyn nodded.
They had done their due diligence in coming up with a convincing cover story for what had happened. After they left New Dentin, they tracked down the Legendary Relic to Noxiss where Sophia was killed while trying to retrieve it. The Relic was later destroyed during their escape. They eventually managed to charter a flight back to Lear and Clementine was their pilot.
It was not so mundane of a story that people would try to press for further details, but not so grand as for people to think it unrealistic. The truth being far more unbelievable than anything they could have come up with on their own. Madilyn was sure if she reported that she met not one but three immortal beings, one of them being the notorious pirate, the Iron Maid, and that they helped her on her mission, Madilyn would be laughed straight into a mental asylum.
Though she was sure there were already those who were trying to do just that. After all, what sane woman would ever want to be a knight? Obviously she was unstable.
“We’re coming in on Rouen,” Clementine reported, yelling back from her seat at the front. “You know, I just realized this is the first time I’ve ever seen this city. For the most part we have stayed away from Lear.”
Madilyn turned in her seat to look out the viewport behind her. She could see the vast city below her now as they flew over. Yet it somehow felt smaller than it had when she had left. In comparison to the walls around Noxiss, it was not nearly as grandiose but it was still far to smog and coal ridden to have the simple tranquility that New Dentin had.
“I’m going to land us at the trading port,” Clementine said. “I really don’t want you military types getting any kind of look at the Rabbit. That’s when questions start being asked. Question I rightly don’t want to have to answer.”
“That’s fine.” Madilyn nodded. “We can take the tram back to the Palace, no trouble.”
The Rabbit began its descent into the giant lake near the center of the city were airships from all over the Kingdom were docked in the murky and polluted waters. There was a slight jerk and a thud as the Rabbit landed in the water next to the pier, bobbing slightly with the waves.
“Last stop,” Clementine said, getting out of her chair and moving to the back of the airship to lower the ramp for them to get out.
The ramp landed on the pier with a loud crack as the iron collided with the wood boards of the pier. Hoping out, Clementine hastily tied the airship down so it would not drift away. Madilyn and Max were not far behind her.
Everything felt strange to Madilyn as she surveyed the city scape around her. This was the city she had grown up in and she had only been gone for a month, yet it felt estranged to her. Like she had been gone for years.
“Whelp, you gals go have fun,” Clementine said after finishing tying off the rope. “Doing whatever you military types do.”
“You not heading back to the Iron Rose?” Madilyn asked, turning back to face her.
“Nah. I got to go pick up some supplies,” Clementine said. “We don’t make stops at such large cities often, so there is a long list of luxury items that I was asked to retrieve.”
“Well,” Max said, offering out her hand. “It was nice knowing you, Clem. I am glad I got to see two beautiful airships before it was all said and done.”
“Sorry you couldn’t have seen more,” Clementine said, slapping her hand into Max’s, giving it a strong pump. “It’s never boring with Grandma. That’s for sure.”
“I think I’ve seen enough,” Max assured playfully, letting go of the hand.
“So long,” Madilyn said, using the hand holding her armor to wave at Clementine.
“You too knighty,” Clementine said. She gave Madilyn a playful smile and wave.
Madilyn only shook her head as she turned and headed down the pier.
Why did everyone want to call her knighty?
The trip on the tram was a quiet one. Neither of them having anything left to say. At the end, they both got off and headed for the closest Palace entrance.
“Hey Madilyn,” Max whispered as they passed through the gate. “Is it just me, or are the guards staring at us?”
“They’re staring at me,” Madilyn assured. “They always stare at me.” But this was not the normal look of disdain or awe that people usually had when they saw the infamous female knight. There was a tension in their eyes. Something was wrong. She could taste it in the air.
There was a clanking sound as three fully armored knights came marching out of the Palace, heading directly for Madilyn and Max. All of them had their hands gripping their sabers as they moved. Their helmets extended so they covered their faces. Flanking them were six armed infantry, their weapons at the ready as they marched.
“Not exactly the kind of reception I was expecting,” Max said. Her voice filled with worry.
Madilyn did not say anything but she shared Max’s feelings. The sense of uneasiness was growing in her chest, making it hard to breath.
“You have a lot of gall returning here,” the lead knight said, coming to a stop in front of Madilyn.
Madilyn instantly recognized the voice of the knight. “Ben?” She leaned forward, trying to peer through the face grate to see the face underneath.
The helmet retracted around the knight’s neck with a loud hiss, showing her younger brother’s face.
“It is Sir Benjamin,” Benjamin said with a spiteful tone. “And you are both under arrest for treason.”
“Treason?” Max asked. A look of utter confusion on her face. “What in bloody hell are you talking about?”
Benjamin motioned with his hand and the six soldiers raised their rifles aiming them at Madilyn and Max, their fingers on the trigger. The two knights moved in and grabbed Madilyn and Max, each of them holding a set of iron clasps in their hands.
“What is the meaning of this?” Madilyn demanded. She was forced to drop her armor as her hands were yanked behind her back. She could feel the cold metal of the shackles being pressed around her wrist. At the same time, Madilyn could feel her saber being unclasped from her belt but she did not see who was doing it as her attention was focused solely on Benjamin.
“You went to Trevelia to sell secrets to our enemy,” Benjamin stated, his stare cold. “I was able to figure out your scheme and was rewarded for my diligence and loyalty when I reported it.”
“Sell secrets?” Madilyn gasped, still confused as to what was going on. Surely this had to be a joke of some kind. “You know good and well what our mission in Trevelia was. You were there when Lord Malorin gave it us.”
“Lord Malorin has himself rebuked your actions,” Benjamin stated. “He even stepped down as his Majesty’s adviser out of shame for ever supporting you.”
Madilyn could not hide the look of betrayal on her face. Her own little brother had sold her out. She was not sure of the details, but his new knight-hood and absurd story was evidence enough of that.
“How could you?” Madilyn gasped as she was forcibly dragged away.
“You shouldn’t have come back,” Benjamin whispered as she was shoved past him.
They were led down into the depths of the Palace. There was no light from the sun and the little light there was came from the rare oil lamp scattered about, casting the walls in a dark, shadowy orange. She had visited the dungeon several times for various reasons over the years, but this was the first time she would be the one being locked up in one of its cells.
“Yo,” came a familiar voice.
“Clem?” Max gasped, moving towards the cell that the voice had come from, only to be immediately pulled back by her knight escort.
Madilyn looked over at the cell and saw Clementine laying on a dirty mat like she was sunning herself on a beach.
The knight was not gentle when he pushed Madilyn into the cell, slamming the door shut behind her. Max was thrown into the cell next to her. She lost her balance and fell to her knees, letting out a stifled yelp of pain. The knights had not even bothered to remove the shackles from their wrists.
“Always knew this day would come,” one of the knights spat as he glared at Madilyn through the slits of his helmet. “This is what happens when you let a woman try to be something she can never be.”
Madilyn glared at them as they walked away. She hoped they could feel her stare burning into the backs of their heads.
“Alright,” Max said, stepping over her shackles so her hands were in front of her. “Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on?”
“Don’t know,” Clementine said. “Came back to the Rabbit to stow some supplies I’d bought and there were a dozen soldiers waiting for me. They asked if I had brought two passengers from Trevelia here. I figured they meant you and confirmed it without really thinking. Next thing I know, I am face down on the deck and they are clasping me in irons. At first I’d thought you two had sold me out, but me being one of the Iron Maid’s crew wasn’t even brought up. Then both of you show up here a half hour later.”
Madilyn let out a sigh as she rested her head against the bars of her cell. “They are trying to silence anyone who knows the truth.”
“And what truth would that be?” Clementine asked.
“I have no idea,” Madilyn said. “That we’re not traitors, I guess.”
“I take it you knew that knight who arrested us,” Max said.
“He’s my squire.” Madilyn nodded, her head still resting against the bars. “And my little brother.”
“Ouch,” Clementine cringed.
“Yeah.” She let out a sigh. “I don’t think this was his doing though. There’s no way his word would be taken over the word of someone like Lord Malorin. I think he just went along with it to save himself.”
“And get a nice promotion out of it too, apparently,” Max added.
“Yeah.” Madilyn sighed again. She was not sure what she was feeling in that moment. Part of her felt confused but she mostly just felt numb. There was no way that this was real. How could it be?
“You have any ideas on how to get out of here?” Max asked, wrapping her arms around the bars, looking through them at Madilyn in the adjoining cell.
“Nope.” Madilyn shook her head.
“What about using some of those knight skills that are so flaunted for?” Max pressed.
“Can’t use them without a weapon.” Madilyn shrugged, clanking her shackles together behind her.
“Come on, Knighty,” Max grumbled. “Don’t cut out on me now. If they are charging us with treason, that means we’ll be hanged in the morning. They are surprisingly quick and efficient when it comes to stuff like that.” She let go of the bars and rushed to the other side, looking across the way to where Clementine was. “How long until Jezebel notices you’re missing?”
“Don’t hold your breath,” Clementine said. “Grandma is super protective of me and dad.”
“Doesn’t that mean she will notice even sooner?” Max asked.
“Nope.” Clementine shook her head. “You see, she knows she smothers us with her overbearing nature, so she goes to great lengths to hold herself back. She will probably tell herself that I met some man and am spending the night with him or some such. Or that I simply lost track of time. Wouldn’t be my first time doing so after all. She will restrain herself from coming after me until morning. And if our soldier boys stick to tradition, we’ll be hanged at dawn.”
“How are you so calm about all of this?” Max gasped. She was starting to panic. Madilyn could spot all the signs, but she was beyond the point of caring. Let her panic, it did not make any difference one way or another.
“I’m a pirate.” Clementine shrugged. “Death by hanging is an everyday reality for me. The charge of treason is a bit of a surprise though. To get hung for the one crime I’ve never actually committed.” She started to chuckle to herself as she thought of it. “It’s actually kind of funny when you think about it.”
“This is funny to you?” Max gasped. “Do you think this is some kind of joke?”
“Grandma always said that life was just one big joke.” Clementine wagged her finger in the air while she bounced the foot that was crossed over her knee. “And you can either laugh with it, or have it laugh at you.”
Clementine had a point there. Madilyn’s entire life did seem to be one big joke and she was the punch line. She had lied to Sophia and did everything she could to manipulate her into helping with her mission. Stooping so low as to use the death of her own sister. She had forced Max to help, not caring that she was uncomfortable with the lies. And all because of her loyalty to her kingdom.
And now she was about to be hung for treason by that very kingdom.
It started in her stomach and Madilyn did her best to hold it in. She clenched her chest and held her breath, but her shoulders kept shuttering. Then with every snort of laughter that escaped, she lost her composure more and more. Soon she threw her head back and let out a loud laugh that echoed off the walls. She was laughing so hard that she lost her balance and fell back against the cell wall. But even that did not stop her laughing.
“And now the knight has lost it.” Max sighed, seeming to accept the hopelessness of her fate.
“I’m sorry,” Madilyn said between breaths, trying to calm herself down. She used her shoulder to wipe away a tear.
“See,” Clementine said. “That’s the spirit.”
***
“She still not eating?” the doctor asked Sophia.
“No,” Sophia said with a mournful sigh.
Sophia looked through the partially open door at the woman lying in the large bed inside the well-furnished boudoir. She had propped herself up using several pillows so she could better stare out the window next to the bed. There was not much to see, but there was a clear view of the sky and Sophia thought that was what the woman was staring at all the time.
“Well,” the doctor said, packing up his instruments back into his bag. “As I have said before. There is nothing physical about her condition that is making her sick. The amputation was a success and there does not seem to be any signs of infection.”
“How can you look at her and tell me that she is not sick?” Sophia asked.
“I did not say that she was not sick,” the doctor pointed out. “I said there was nothing physical about it.” The doctor looked back at the room and shook his head. “It was only a few toes,” he said. “She still has her health and more than enough money to live on. I know plenty of people who would give their entire foot to be in her position.”
Clasping his bag closed, the doctor grabbed the handle and started heading for the door. Sophia could hear him talking to some of the family members further on, giving them his prognosis.
Sophia could understand the doctor’s feelings. It was hard for him to understand why a wealthy woman would be so heartbroken over losing some toes. Very few people who had their foot amputated could claim to be so lucky. But for the woman in there, it might as well have been her entire leg that had been sawed off.
Musterin
g up her courage, Sophia pushed open the door and stepped inside.
“Hello,” Sophia said as warm and encouraging as she could.
There was no response.
Sophia found the comfortable chair in the corner and sat down. She folded her fingers and tapped her thumbs together as they both sat in silence. The woman looked frail and weak. Her cheeks having sunken into her face. She was nothing like the bright energetic woman that Sophia had come to know over the past years.
“Everyone is worried for you,” Sophia said, unable to think of anything else to say. “I know how much dancing meant to you. But there is nothing that says you have to give it up completely. There is plenty of work that you can help me with at the cabaret. You can teach others. You can be a support dancer.”
Sophia regretted the words as soon as they were out of her mouth. To tell a woman who had been hailed as the world’s greatest dancer only a few weeks ago that she could be a support dancer. Sophia would have been better off taking an actual knife and twisting it in her chest.
“I’m sorry.” Sophia let out a breath and hung her head, hating herself.
The woman showed no sign of reaction to Sophia’s words but Sophia knew she had heard them and she also knew they had cut deeply.
“It can be hard having the thing you love taken away from you,” Sophia stated, resting her chin in her palm as she too stared out the window. “There becomes this void in your chest and it is so great that you know there is no way that it will ever be filled. Many people have felt it. Some have let it embitter them. Some have made it a part of them. While others lose them-selves in it.”
Sophia looked over at the woman. Her words did not seem to be making any noticeable difference. Her stare was just as blank and void of any emotion as before. She had seen this look so many times on so many different people over the long centuries. Young, old, male, female, it made no difference. The look of a person who had given up on life always looked the same.
“I can help you do it,” Sophia said, lowering her head. Her voice had been soft but the woman’s eyes shifted toward Sophia all the same. Taking a steadying breath, Sophia looked up at the woman. “I think it a waste. I think you could still do so much. Your time as a dancer may be up but you could use your gift to usher in a new generation of dancers like the world has never seen. I would be delighted to see the world that you would help shape. But if you have given up, then I will help you. It’s better than watching you starve yourself like this.”