phantom knights 04 - deceit in delaware

by Amalie Vantana

  It was the evening before the wedding celebration was to take place and I was seated in Eric’s salon with him when the door opened and a young man entered.

  He carried an ebony walking stick in one hand and had a black cape flung over his arm. His dark hair was brushed in a style depicting chaos, and his narrow face transformed into a regal smile when he called out. “Eric! Your brother has returned.”

  Luther, the younger son of King Frederick, had never been a favorite with me, or I with him. When he saw me, after embracing Eric, he flicked his finger toward the door.

  “You may go, guard, for we have no need of your protection.”

  Slowly rising, I towered over Luther, but he was not the least intimidated. He had turned his attention to a piece of fluff upon his sleeve.

  Eric walked with me to the door, whispering, “Perhaps it is for the best. Allow me to discover why he has returned.”

  Agreeing, I went out, but did not go far. Seating myself upon the window seat at the end of the hall, I watched the door for hours, waiting for Luther to leave. When he did, it was past two in the morning.

  Knowing that Eric would be expecting me, I let myself into his salon, where I found him with his head buried against his arms.

  Eric did not have to say the words, for I knew by the tense way he held himself. I would not be standing up with him at the wedding.

  That did not bother me so much as the way Luther could make Eric feel. Eric always seemed to age ten years when Luther was near. He did not trust his brother any more than I trusted Luther. Years of having to defend myself against Luther’s attacks had taught me to keep a watchful eye upon him and my surroundings. He had tried to have me whipped, thrown into the prison cells, hanged, and pressed into a foreign military.

  “Do not allow him to worry you, Eric. Look to happier times. You will join yourself in matrimony with your lady in a few short hours.”

  Eric raised his head and then the rest of him, yawning. “So I will. As to Luther’s return, well, that is something for Fader to worry over. Luther, praise be to the heavens, is not my responsibility.”

  “Right you are!” Placing my hand on the back of a chair I inspected my nails. “I could keep a watch upon him if it would bring you peace of mind.” It was spoken casually, but Eric saw through my words, as he always did.

  “I could not ask that of you.”

  “You did not. I offered. Consider it my wedding gift to you since I am depriving you of my hovering presence upon your wedding trip.”

  King Frederick had requested that I remain at the palace while Eric and Elisabeth traveled to Sweden for their wedding trip. Elisabeth wanted to show Eric some of her country, but she would only be taking two of her ladies in waiting with her. She wanted me to remain behind with the two that would be left at the palace. Since Eleanora was to accompany Elisabeth, I agreed to the request. Not that I would ever refuse my king anything.

  “You will do as you wish, but do remember that Luther is a prince and if he provokes you to strike him, you will be at fault.”

  I assured Eric that I would not strike Luther, and then Eric went off to bed and I made my way back to my own chamber.

  The following day, when I had arrived at Eric’s chamber dressed in my uniform, he had sent me back to my chamber with orders to change into the suit that had been made for me. He said that even though I could not stand up with him, I would attend the wedding as a guest. He assured me that his father approved, and so I had no excuses to make.

  My suit was of gray striped silk, with a waistcoat of an elegant baroque print. After tying my cravat and pulling on my boots, I surveyed myself in the small looking glass that I kept upon my table. It was the most elegant attire that I had ever owned, ever worn. In this suit, I felt different. I felt of worth.

  When I met Eric, he smiled with approval and the two of us made our way down to the carriage that would take him to the cathedral.

  Luther was waiting for Eric inside the carriage, but when I stepped back, Eric captured my arm.

  “You will ride with me.”

  “I cannot,” I whispered so that Luther could not hear.

  “You are as much my brother as Luther, and so you will ride with me.” When Eric was adamant, I could not refuse.

  Climbing into the carriage after Eric, Luther was frowning at me. “Do you expect an assassination? Why else is your henchman with us.”

  “Willem is here as my friend, and I expect no ill will against him,” Eric told his brother.

  Luther raised his chin in the air and looked out over the gardens as the carriage drove down the lane that separated the palace and the long cathedral. There was a chapel in the palace, but for weddings, coronations, and every event of worth, the cathedral was used.

  Well-wishers had turned out in mass, lining the lane and holding sticks with streamers of gold and blue. When they saw Eric, a great cheer was released.

  “The humble peasants have turned out for you, Eric. How quaint,” Luther said.

  Eric and I smiled at each other, for we knew that the people’s support was as important as any of the state visitors who would attend the wedding.

  After Eric descended the carriage, followed by Luther, I climbed down and smiled at those of the people that I knew.

  Luther was speaking with a guard that I did not recognize when I followed Eric toward the cathedral. Before I could enter, I was waylaid by Luther touching my shoulder. Stepping away from his hand, I eyed him cautiously.

  “Willem, Lord Adamsen has requested to have speech with you. He is overseeing the guards at the rear of the cathedral. I will tell Eric that you will be along shortly.” Luther went into the cathedral, and, seeing no reason to deny him, I walked around the side of the cathedral. Guards were standing along each side of the cathedral for the protection of the royal family.

  At the rear of the cathedral I did not see Lord Adamsen. Feeling the fool that Luther no doubt intended me to be, I turned around to go back toward the front when something hard struck my head, and then the sky went dark.

  ****

  Waking some time later, I groaned as my head throbbed. There were bells ringing in my head … or so I had thought until I sat up and the bells did not halt.

  Slowly it came back to me. Luther. The wedding. Being struck. The bells were marking the marriage of Eric and Elisabeth, and I had missed it all. Shoving myself to my feet, I blinked around at my prison. Shed would be a better description of where I had been placed. There was a window allowing in enough light to see my surroundings.

  Trying the door, I found it locked from the outside.

  The window, I knew, was too small for me to climb through. Unless I wanted to throw my shoulder against the door, and risk hurting myself, I was trapped for the time being.

  I did not know how long I sat in that shed before I heard voices. It was long enough for the sun to lessen in the sky.

  As the voices came closer, I pushed myself up and began pounding upon the door and shouting for assistance.

  “Ay?” called a voice, coming closer to the shed.

  “Would you be so kind as to open the door for me? I seem to be trapped.”

  “Ay. One moment.” The man shouted to another, and then there was the sound of something metal striking the door. When the door was pulled open, one of the gardeners stood between me and freedom.

  “Captain Nielsen?”

  “I thank you, friend,” I said as I moved past him and hurried toward the palace.

  When I entered, the ball was in full form. The musicians were playing and dancers swung about the floor.

  My gaze sought out Luther, but halted when a lithe form swung past me. She was dressed in ivory and gold with streamers threaded through her hair, and a happy smile upon her lips.

  She was dancing with one of Lady Elisabeth’s brothers and enjoying herself immensely. Moving along the wall, keeping my gaze focused upon her, I bumped into a chair. Looking down, I began to apologize.

  Meeting
the smiling face of Lady Ann, I smiled ruefully.

  “Is this seat taken, milady?”

  She shook her head so I sat beside her. I knew that she would not be dancing this evening for she had dedicated her life to a holy calling. She once confessed, when we were escorting Eric and Elisabeth upon an outing, that she would join a convent if she had not given her life in service to Lady Elisabeth.

  “What has happened to you, Captain Nielsen?”

  When I questioned her with a look, she reached up and pulled a leaf from my hair.

  “I was set upon by rogues before the wedding. They knocked me unconscious and locked me in a garden shed.”

  She looked her incredulity. When she questioned me further, I assured her that I had matters well in hand.

  When the music ended, I noticed Luther making his way through the crowd toward Eleanora.

  “If I were you, Captain, I would make haste to claim a certain lady’s hand for the next set. A certain brother appears ready to commit a scandal by requesting her to dance for the third time.”

  Seeing Luther being halted by one of Elisabeth’s relatives, I rose. Lady Ann rose beside me.

  “He has been circling around her as one would expect of a hawk, if you will excuse the expression.”

  “I understand perfectly. Though he may be the hawk, I am the hunter.” Bowing before her, I cut through the crowd with ease. Reaching Eleanora, I requested her hand for the next set before Luther could escape from Elisabeth’s sister.

  Eleanora looked as if she wanted to deny me, but she could not without having to sit out the next dance. The way that her blue eyes sparkled, I knew that she would prefer to dance with me over sitting out on her pleasure.

  As the musicians struck up the first chords she placed her gloved hand in mine.

  We danced the minuet, and the moment that Eleanora closed her eyes and danced the steps by memory alone, I knew that there was much to be discovered in her. As if I were an explorer coming upon a treasure of the rarest value and sheen, I watched her dance in awe.

  When the first dance ended and the second struck, I did not relinquish my hold upon her hand. I swept her with me as we danced across the floor, toward the terrace doors.

  Pausing to open one, she started to pull away, but I drew her with me onto the terrace. Taking her hands in mine, I began the steps to a cotillion, and Eleanora went along with me without word. The sky had darkened and the servants were beginning to light the lanterns along the garden paths. Eleanora did not seem to notice the men who stopped their duty to watch us dance. Her eyes were once again closed as she swayed with the music that was floating through the closed doors into the ballroom.

  When the music ended, I bowed low before Eleanora and brought her hand to my lips. “I thank you, my lady, for an unforgettable dance.” As I rose, I gazed into her eyes, lost for a moment in the beauty of not only the evening but in my partner.

  She pulled her hand away and moved to stand against the parapet.

  “When the clock strikes ten there will be wondrous colors lighting the sky,” I told her as I came up behind her. She began to run her hands over her arms.

  Reaching out, I gently touched the curl that was caressing her bare neck. She must have felt me for she twisted around, pulling her hair from between my fingers.

  Her name was whispered between us and she sucked in a breath as I leaned toward her.

  “There you are, my dearest Eleanore,” Luther said from the ballroom doors.

  Stepping to the side, she smiled at Luther even though he had mistaken her name. Saying it as if he had the right.

  “Do I interrupt?” The scathing in Luther’s voice had me turning toward him.

  “Ah, it is you, henchman. Returned from your pruning, have you?” He released a soft chuckle that had me clenching my hands.

  “You do not interrupt, Prince Luther,” Eleanora said, moving to his side. “Did you not promise to escort me into supper? I vow that I am famished.”

  Luther offered his arm with a smile, but as they turned toward the ballroom, he cast me a glance full of hate … and warning.

  If it was a fight Luther was after, it would take every bit of my restraint to keep from obliging.

  CHAPTER 6

  With Luther returned, I had taken upon myself a new task. After his actions at the wedding, I knew that Luther was up to something untoward. Eric had asked what Luther could possibly do to arouse my suspicion in all of a few hours. I did not tell him that Luther was always under suspicion. Eric would have said that it was simply due to my dislike of Luther that I suspected him of ill dealings. That may have been true when I was younger, but I had learned during my time in the military to trust my gut, and my gut said that Luther was up to no good.

  Eric and his lady had been gone for the first of their two month wedding trip when my suspicions proved true. When the king had requested that I remain behind, Eric was so besotted with his lady that he agreed without complaint. I had sent the most trusted guards in my place, and I had remained behind.

  Luther’s daily routine had been the same for the last month. Rise after noon, break his fast in bed, dress for the next two hours, and emerge from his bedchamber around three in the afternoon. Usually the king had a guard posted outside Luther’s door to escort him to the king’s chambers, but there were times when Luther would escape without first seeing his father.

  The king and Luther did not get on well, and their encounters tended to end in the king shouting as Luther walked out of the king’s chamber, smirking. It was when he was down the corridor, away from prying eyes that his smirk slipped and was replaced by a look of pure hatred. When he was especially angry he would take a few moments to speak to himself. Usually it was about how his father dared too much in trying to check Luther’s actions. It was on those days that my suspicions about Luther were justified, though I found no happiness in my findings.

  The first time that I had a true glimpse of Luther’s anger, he had stormed out of the palace, taken out his father’s favorite hunting hounds, and shot them.

  Hours later, after Luther returned home, he had an excuse, saying that the hounds had run away from him and had been shot by one of the farmers. Luther’s lackeys were always there to agree to his story. When the farmer was locked in the stocks overnight, I was the one who fed him and took him water. I knew that my word against Luther’s and his followers would hold no weight, so I continued to follow him. Trying to determine Luther’s course before he took it. There had been two times that I was able to see Luther’s projective and halt his terror. Once had been when Luther chose to take out his anger during a game of cards at the waterside tavern. The man who kept winning was as old as my father and was as innocent as a newly born lamb. He would hurt no one, was friends with nearly everyone. That he liked drink was his one fault. It deprived him of the ability to keep work. He accepted whatever odd jobs the ship captains or merchants would offer. Then the coin would go directly into the tavern keeper’s hand.

  Wearing a long cape a low brimmed hat, and keeping my chin to my chest, I watched from the corner of the tavern as Luther grew angrier with each loss that he endured. After the sixth loss, I knew it was time to intervene.

  Going into the kitchen, the tavern keeper did not look twice at me as I passed through to a rear door. I found one of the regulars and paid him to run into the tavern and shout that the king was coming. When he did as I said, I grabbed the old man and pulled him with me into the kitchen.

  “What be ye about? I was winning!”

  “And angering the prince,” I retorted, pulling my purse from my pocket. Emptying a few coins into his palm, I warned him, none too kindly, to refrain from ever playing with the prince again or he would find himself at the bottom of the sea.

  The second attempt had been when I caught one of Luther’s lackeys trying to lame the king’s favorite horse. What I did to him, well, he would never be bothering the king again, for when he awoke it would be in another country.

&
nbsp; My superior called me into his chamber to issue me some orders that would go into effect when Eric and his lady returned, so I was tardy getting to Luther’s wing of the palace. Deciding to take a quicker route to the prince’s wing, I cut across the wing housing Lady Elisabeth, and it was there that I heard a scream.

  It was quickly muffled, but the sound drew me up short. I was at a passage where two halls connected. Stepping forward, I glanced down the passage toward where the ladies in waiting were being housed. Outside one of the doors stood three of Luther’s lackeys. It struck me with sudden clarity what was afoot, and that summoned an unnatural ire within me.

  Lady Elisabeth had taken only two of her four ladies in waiting with her on her wedding trip. Eleanora and Jetta. There were two still in the palace, and that chamber where those louts were hovering belonged to the kindest of all the ladies. A soft spoken, devout young woman.

  My fists clenched until they hurt as I stomped forward. I was half way down the passage when the three louts straightened from their hunched positions. They had been pressing their ears to the door, and that caused my ire to burn like a celestial star plummeting to earth in a blazing fire.

  “I have a message for the prince,” I said as I approached them. “From the king.”

  One of them scoffed. “Then trot off and find him. He is not here.”

  “If he is not here then you should not be either. It is not allowed for any to be in this wing who are not approved by the king.”

  All three of them rose up to their tallest, though even the tallest came up to only my eyes.

  There came another scream, and this time I heard a distinct cry for help, and I lost my calm.

  “Step aside,” I commanded.

  “We do not answer to you,” the leader of the louts retorted.

  “Perhaps not … but you shall answer to my fists.” I rammed my fist into the stomach of the nearest lout. As he bent over, I twisted and threw my shoulder against the second, slamming his body into the stone wall. My fist struck his chin and his head bobbed as it struck the stone behind him. The third grabbed me from behind, and I ran us backward, straight into a small table and toppling a candelabra. He released me. I twisted around, grabbed his neck and threw him over my knee. When his back hit the ground, I stepped over him and walked to the door.