Deck of Cards

by Johnson, ID

  She arrived at Graden in the middle of the night and neither king was available to greet her. She found this a bit odd but was thankful for it. The one bright spot was the familiar face she saw among the ladies sent to wait on her. She was reunited with Joan at last.

  Her chamber was very near King Leopold’s and she was told that, should she need anything at all, she could call upon the king at any time. She wondered, if that were the case, why he was not present when she arrived. But she said nothing. In fact, she had remained silent the entire time since she was back in Philip’s custody, noting that none of these people were aware of her ability to speak. She wanted to keep that card close to her chest for now.

  She carried a letter directly from Caleb to Leopold and she was hoping to serve it upon her initial arrival, but since he had not been present, she decided to hold on to it until she could give it to him in person, hopefully tomorrow. She had brought only one trunk, since she was not planning on staying long and it was delivered to her room. Then, she dismissed the other ladies, leaving only herself and Joan, alone at last to catch up on all that had happened, and, more importantly, to explain the next steps in her plan.

  As soon as the last of Leopold’s appointed ladies left the room, Katey turned to Joan and showed her the new ring she was wearing, the one containing the seal of Arteria. “I don’t understand,” Joan had said, confusion all over her pretty face. “Why are you wearing that?”

  “Because,” Katey said softly, “I’m the Queen of Arteria.”

  Joan nearly jumped out of her skin. “Did you just speak?”

  “Yes,” Katey replied. “I’ve found my voice. And you’re going to help me put an end to this madness with Philip once and for all.”

  Joan had to sit down. Finding a spot on the edge of the bed, she began to ask more questions then Katey could possibly answer. If she were the Queen of Arteria, why was she here? Why had Caleb been willing to let her go? What had James said? Did Nichole know? She also asked several personal questions, which, for the most part, Katey declined to answer. Katey spent most of the night answering her questions and explaining to her exactly what she needed for Joan to do next to ensure that her plan was successful. This was the first time she had ever followed through with any of her ideas and it was critically important that this be carried out and completed with no chance of error so that she could be reunited with her husband before Philip had a chance to place his repulsive hands on her.

  Joan listened intently and agreed to do her best to fulfill the requirements placed upon her. She made a few suggestions that should be helpful and Katey was so very thankful to have her best friend back at long last.

  There was a small window in Katey’s room, which she was quite grateful for and, just about the time that the sun came up, she was summoned to meet with Leopold. She was going on two days now with absolutely no sleep and she could tell her body was starting to drag. She was looking forward to sound slumber in the near future. She just had to take care of a bit of business with a pair of kings first.

  ***

  James had ridden directly from the exchange to meet with Nichole and her forces. She still had no idea that Katey had been handed over to their enemies, and for now, he planned to keep it that way. His chief objective was to relay battle information from Caleb to Nichole and to coordinate their forces. He had a firm understanding of exactly how Caleb intended to attack Leopold’s forces and he wanted to make sure that Nichole had the picture as well. Still, he couldn’t help but mention to Nichole that Katey had begun to speak.

  “Our Baby Katey has found her voice?” she said, beaming a smile like only a proud mother could understand. “That’s amazing!”

  “I know,” James concurred. “The first time I heard her speak, I almost began to weep.”

  In fact, he had begun to weep, but Nichole did not need to know that. He had been sitting in the library at Castle Caine the morning after he first found Katey there. She had entered the room, a wide smile on her gorgeous face, thrown her arms around him and said, “I love you, Jamie.”

  At first, he couldn’t believe his ears. He had asked her to repeat it. Then the tears began to flow. That very phrase had been the last thing she had ever said to him. She had said it fifteen years ago, as they were flying through the woods, attempting to escape the Great Heathen Army. Over the years, he and Nichole had both attempted to explain to her that it was not her fault their mother had been killed. The Heathen who had killed her had seen them before Katey even made a peep. In fact, had she not screamed so loudly, the Placidian forces would not have realized their close proximity. They would not have taken down the Heathens who were about to annihilate all of them. If Katey had remained silent they would likely all be dead. But, Katey had not seen it that way. She believed it was her fault their mother had died and she had refused to speak ever since.

  Until now. Somehow, Caleb had changed that in her almost overnight. James had never seen his sister as happy as she was when they were together. And, though he could not understand how Caleb let her ride away with the enemy, he respected the fact that Katey had found her voice and was determined to use it. She was, after all, her mother’s daughter and Nichole’s sister. She came from a long line of forceful queens. But she could not get back on her own. She needed her family now, more than ever, and he was determined to make sure that she was returned safely to Arteria if it was the last thing he ever did.

  Pulling out a map, James went over troop numbers and locations with Nichole. Her forces alone outnumbered the Gradenians but they were highly skilled cavalry and archers and so it would take more than raw numbers to be successful on the battlefield. He pointed out the locations where Caleb planned to concentrate his troops and attack. He also showed her where they suggested she launch her attacks on the northeast, east, and southeast borders. Caleb would also be using Zurconia as a launching point so that Leopold would be hemmed in against the mountains with only a few small passages as escape routes, should his men turn and run. And not only would they be outnumbered, the invading forces were fighting for the return of their beloved Katherine. There was simply no way they could possibly lose this fight. Everything depended upon their victory.

  Nichole shook her head. “Alright, my brother. I think we understand. Now, tell me, when do we begin?”

  “Right now,” James said, the sense of urgency building in his voice.

  Nichole looked at her generals and gave the command. “Let’s move,” she said. “We have a pair of kings to overthrow.”

  Chapter 13

  They had brought Maggie down the stairs to greet her king, not wanting him to have to climb to the very highest of towers, not wanting her to have to wait for his ascent. Astute girl that she was, she was suspicious when they had brought her down to the throne room, but her cautious side didn’t allow her to start hoping, just in case she were incorrect. She had only been sitting there a few moments when the doors burst open and there he was before her very eyes, once again.

  Matthew had cleaned up the best he could on the carriage ride, not wanting to alarm his love or knock her over with his putrid stench. Caleb had even thought to bring Matthew a pair of his very own clothes. When he reached the castle, it was all he could do to keep from running inside. However, due to his injuries, Russell cautioned him to take his time. He and Caleb helped Matthew make his way into the throne room where Maggie was patiently waiting.

  At first, they said nothing, just embraced. Finally, Matthew broke down in tears. “I thought I’d lost you forever,” he whispered into her ear.

  “I will never leave you,” Maggie reassured him. She kissed him gently on the lips, his hand stroking her cheek.

  “Oh, how I have missed those emerald green eyes,” he said, staring in to them as if in a trance. All of those nights, knowing for certain that she was gone, dreaming of those eyes, having them closed forever, and now, here they were, right in front of him. It was almost too good to be true.

  Maggie leaned in t
o kiss him again before they were both carried off to a waiting bedchamber where they could recover from their injuries together again at last.

  As Caleb watched them go, he was delighted to have his brother back, overjoyed to see the happiness on his sister-in-law’s beaming face, and overwhelmed with sadness at the cost he had just endured to create this happy reunion. Now, it was time to finish this game once and for all.

  ***

  Leopold had not been waiting long when he was given word that Princess Katherine was waiting outside of the throne room door. He had just sent off a dispatcher to Nichole, letting her know that he truly had her sister this time, that she was safe and sound, and that he would be glad to negotiate an alliance with Placidia, since Arteria clearly saw no value in the princess, whilst he was very appreciative to be in her company.

  When she first entered the room, he was rendered speechless, something that had rarely ever happened to King Leopold before. She was breathtakingly gorgeous and though Philip had spoken of her beauty, Leo had not been prepared for this. He was aware, unlike his idiot cousin that being mute meant that one did not speak—ever—and so, he did not expect her to suddenly strike up a conversation. As she drew closer, her eyes on the floor, he made a little bow in her direction. She looked up at him through her eyelashes and curtsied. “Have a seat,” he said, offering her a chair near the fireplace. She hesitated at first, not wanting to become too comfortable, since every fiber in her being was telling her to bolt for the door. But she knew she may be here a while and her weariness longed for a bit of relief so she joined him near the fire, the letter from Caleb folded neatly in her pocket, awaiting the right moment to be produced.

  He was frightening to look at, to say the least, particularly to someone of Katey’s diminutive stature. He was tall, dressed all in black, with bright blond hair and a spikey mustache of ebony. She did not like him. He seemed even more evil than his cousin. Nevertheless, she was here because she had chosen to be and she had a job to do.

  “Welcome, Princess Katherine,” he began. “I trust that your journey was a safe one?” He raised his eyebrows, waiting for a response, so she nodded. As safe as a kidnapping could be. “Very well,” he continued. “And your chambers are suitable?” Again, she nodded. “Lovely. I hope you are glad to be reunited with your lady-in-waiting. Joan, I believe? I found it a bit odd that, of all the requests Caleb could have made, that was the only one. And, of course, not to harm you, but surely you must know that my intentions are not to harm you but to prosper you.” He smiled that devilish grin, and, along with the paraphrase from the Good Book itself, the combination made Katey a bit queasy. She swallowed hard, hoping to keep any contents from her stomach where they should be.

  He took this as thirst and offered her some wine. She declined. “Water then?” he asked. She nodded. She had determined it would be best if she consumed little to nothing while in Leopold’s charge, just in case he was up to some maleficence she had yet to detect but she though a sip of water could do no harm and so she accepted.

  “I’m sure you are wondering where Philip is,” Leo continued, sipping his wine. He sat back in his chair, way back, as if he hadn’t a care in the world, his heavy black boot crossed over his knee, the spike of his spur gleaming in the firelight. “He isn’t feeling well,” he continued, sitting the goblet back on the table. “In fact, he is not doing very well at all. I have my physicians in with him now. I am hoping that he will make a quick recovery, but, well, it does not look promising.”

  Katey’s face displayed her confusion. If Philip was ill, so ill, in fact, it sounded as if he may not recover, why was she here?

  As if reading her mind, Leo, put his heavy boot down on the ground, leaning in closer to her, his black gloved elbows on his knees, alternating between resting his chin on his hands and gesturing as he explained. “You see, I have been in deep discussion with your sister, Queen Nichole, and she has agreed that, should Philip be unable to recover, then, I am to have your hand in marriage.”

  He expected a reaction from her, but not the one that he received. Rather than a gasp, it was a small, inaudible chuckle. She knew he was bluffing. How she knew, he wasn’t quite sure, but it was very evident by her response that she knew her sister had not approved their nuptials, not yet anyway.

  Katey thought that this was as good a time as any to hand Leopold the letter she had been carrying from Caleb. She drew it out of her pocket, offering it to him. But, before he took it, he caught a glimpse of her ring. He eyed it for a moment, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. Then, he unfolded the letter and began to read.

  King Leopold,

  You should be aware that the only reason Katherine is in your custody is because she has chosen to replace Matthew as your captive, in order to save his life. Neither Queen Nichole nor I have given our consent to this arrangement but Katherine is confident in your ability to see what must be done in this situation. She believes that you will take the right and just action and return her safely to us. You see, Leopold, Katherine is now my wife, Queen of Arteria. Any claims that Philip had made to you regarding the consummation of their relationship are untrue. He has purposely deceived you in order to drag you into a conflict you had no prior interest in. Now, in order to resolve this divergence without further loss of life or resources, simply arrange to send my wife back to me safely and we shall go our separate ways.

  I look forward to your prompt reply.

  King Caleb of Arteria

  As Leopold read the words, he became both nauseated and increasingly excited. The prospect of war against Arteria and Placidia simultaneously did not appeal to him, but, on the other hand, he finally had something he knew Caleb was willing to fight and die for. At last, the bone he had to pick with Caleb had come full force and he was given the perfect opportunity to seek his vengeance once and for all.

  Katey was expecting Leo to crumple the paper in anger or to toss it in the fire. She was stunned and confused by his actual reaction. He began to laugh. It was a quiet chuckle at first, but, then it morphed into a demonic, maniacal guffaw that echoed off of the stone walls around them. She almost had to cover her ears it was so loud. It sent chills up her arms and made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

  “His wife?” he repeated again and again as he began to regain his composer. “He gave me his wife? What a fool!” He stood up and walked around the back of his chair, reading the letter again, one hand propped against the fireplace.

  Katey’s horror began to turn to anger. She stood herself and approached him. It took him a moment to realize she was next to him. He glanced down at her, a little surprised at her gumption but also aroused by it. She thrust her hand at him, the one with the ring. She knew he had seen it, knew what it meant. He needed to understand that it also meant war, death and destruction.

  Leo glanced down at her ring. “Yes, I know. I saw it. I understand.” He grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her backwards, he was firm but did not hurt her as he guided her back to the chair. “Listen, Katherine,” he said, on the edge of his seat and only inches from her face. “There’s something you need to recognize. I am not afraid of Arteria. I am not afraid of Placidia. If they wish to attack me in order to get you back. They can do so. They can’t defeat me. My army is more powerful than all of the armies in the region combined. They will have to kill me in order to get you back, do you understand?” He was staring in to her eyes now, seeing the fear behind them and liking it. “Don’t you see? I finally have something that he wants! More than anything in the world—his precious wife!” His laughter rang out again and Katey was forced to lean back in her chair. “Finally, after all of these years my dear Charlotte will have vengeance. Isn’t that wonderful?” His hands were on her shoulders again now, and Katey honestly felt sick to her stomach. No, it was anything but wonderful.

  “As for this,” he said, plucking the ring off of her finger. “We can easily resolve this situation. I will simply get one of my physicians to examine you, c
onfirm you are in fact still a virgin, and have the sham wedding annulled by a priest.” Even as Katey grasped his hand, trying to pry her ring back out of it, he tossed it into the fireplace. “And then, you and I will be wed, forcing your sister to stop her ridiculous threats of force, and we will defeat Caleb’s army and live happily together for the rest of all time!”

  Katey looked on hopelessly as her ring began to melt in the middle of the blazing fire. She could feel hot tears splashing against her cheeks. She longed to push him into the fireplace as well. But she knew, even if she were strong enough and she caught him off guard or off balance, she would never make it out of the castle alive. Instead, she began to concentrate on the next step in her plan. As much as she had wanted to give him credit, to believe he would do the right thing, she had little hope that this was the case. She had come prepared.

  As he dismissed her, an armed guard escorting her out, she turned to give Leopold one last lingering glare. He may think that he had the upper hand in this battle with the tiny queen, but in this case, he had drastically underestimated her. He would come to regret not heeding her warning and returning her to King Caleb immediately.

  Even as Katey was being escorted down the hallway, back to her chambers, the messages began to pour in. Gradenia was under attack on all sides, save the north where the mountains were their only protection. Leo gave some quick commands but he could not give his full attention to the war just yet. He had one more quick bit of business to take care of first.

  ***

  Caleb had not hesitated to order his army into battle. In order for Katey’s plan to succeed, he had to be close enough to reach her when the time came. As soon as Matthew was safely back to Castle Caine, he rode out to meet the main section of his forces, those poised to break through the middle of Leopold’s line, dead center of his kingdom. They would begin by driving the Gradenian cavalry out of Clovington, and then invade Gradenia proper, charging straight to Castle Graden. At the same time, Arterian forces partnering with what was left of the Zurconian army would advance from the west. Though this was not the most powerful of armies, they should be able to create a distraction, forcing Leopold to send some of his forces to stop them from simply walking into Gradenia, thus keeping more of his army engaged away from the center. Finally, Nichole’s forces would be pressing in from the east, wrapping around to join Caleb’s armies in the southeast portion of Gradenia. Nichole’s army rarely saw battle, but when they did, they fought like men newly unleashed and there was no doubt in Caleb’s mind that Leopold would have his hands full.