by Alex Avrio
“I have a job to do.”
“Shame.” Demetrius held her tight, and they whirled onwards. “Has he broken your heart yet?” he whispered. Regina pushed him back and could hear his laugh as he melted away into the multitude of masked revellers.
Regina looked around trying to make her way to where the servants waited, and managed to locate Briggs and Eleven.
“This is turning into a terrible plan,” Eleven observed when they finally were together.
“We’ve gone into battle on worse,” Regina said.
“And lost,” Eleven pointed out.
“It’s time,” Regina said to Briggs. He nodded.
Jaeger danced with his partner but he could tell there was something wrong. In the beginning he’d thought she was Chastity, then maybe her sister Cordelia, but something was not quite right in the way she stood, tall and proud. They silently danced, her hand resting gently on his shoulder. The music got a little faster and she fastened her hand on the nape of his neck to steady herself. He noticed her ring pressing uncomfortably on his skin. The other dancers parted as they moved towards the center of the room. He felt a sharp prick, the ring cutting into his skin.
“What wonderful music,” she observed.
Jaeger’s back stiffened. This wasn’t Cordelia.
“Bianca.” It was as if a veil obscuring his vision was lifted. How could he have ever thought it had been Chastity or Cordelia when it was so clearly Bianca di Korthi dancing with him?
“My dear handsome stupid Kapitan,” she said, her lips brushing his ear.
“How may I be of service, Your Grace?” he said calmly. He hoped Bianca hadn’t connected the Merchant Blades with the elimination of their curse and the loss of their powers.
“How strange that you end up in my court and in my power again,” Bianca said. “Did you think I would forget your stench? I was hoping one day I would get my hands on you.”
“Killing us may cause some awkward questions in this court.”
Bianca’s laugh was like the cold air through the last golden leaves clinging on before the end of the season. “I have already killed you, Kapitan. Everything else is now an added bonus.”
Jaeger bowed to her as the dance finished. She curtsied and walked away.
Regina surveyed the room, locating the team. She spotted Emilia returning from the dance floor to sit on a velvet chair, catching her breath. Charlie handed her a glass of champagne and whispered in her ear. Emilia nodded. Rosamynd chatted with Fransesco who listened to her with a thin smile on his lips. The next dance began. The dancers on the floor held their partners close. The hands of the central clock joined together at the top of the dial. There was no chime. A blinding light exploded in the center of the room, followed by a deafening crack that reverberated around the hall. It continued echoing, the sound still deafening.
Screams. Drinks spilled. People tripped over each other. She saw Morgenstern and Schaefer react as confusion turn into stampede. They grabbed the princesses, and hurried towards the exit. Jaeger tugged her arm, and they quickly made it to a side exit. Before she stepped through, Regina turned to see most of the guests pressing towards the main entrance. Then she spotted the man in a raven mask, standing calmly in the center of the hall. He clicked his fingers and the noise suddenly ceased, as though someone had closed the windows on a noisy courtyard. The guests stopped panicking, shaking their heads as their hearing slowly returned. Demetrius’ finger traced an ideogram in the air and yellow lines appeared floating in front of him. The lines danced, swirled and intersected, catching everyone’s attention. People cheered as bright firefly lights exploded into golden rain, and resumed their dancing, seemingly forgetting about the disturbance. Regina turned and quickly followed Jaeger outside.
The team congregated in the shadows outside the hall.
“A thunder grenade? Wasn't that overkill?” Regina asked Briggs.
“It worked.” Eleven replied. This had all the hallmarks of being her idea. Morgenstern emerged from the main entrance, walking briskly, his arm protectively around Emilia, while Schaefer led Rosamynd by the hand.
Regina hurried them down the steps. A hundred meters of paved marble stood between them and the gates. Regina looked round, but no one else had left the palace. They were now only a few paces from the gates. Hopefully the sentries, on orders to keep people out, wouldn't cause any trouble.
Ten’Daertha stepped out from the shadows in front of them. A squad of guards at her back fanned out, surrounding them. She looked at Regina with disappointment.
“Going somewhere?”
39 THE MIDNIGHT BALL
THE next half hour was a blur. The world swam and Regina had trouble focusing. She was barely aware of arms manhandling them, shouts to be careful and not harm them yet. At some point, she landed on the cold floor of a tiny cell, with little to break her fall in its thin covering of moldy straw. She rubbed her temples, trying to focus. She felt icily cold. Cramps bit her muscles. She could make out a figure next to her, which turned out to be Schaefer, knees folded in front of her, arms wrapped around her legs.
“That went well,” Schaefer commented when she noticed Regina was awake. “I thought you were dead. You and Jaeger both collapsed. Stone cold out. I guess the guards gave you a good wallop.”
“Maybe.” Regina suspected it was something that had happened to Jaeger. Leave him one second out of my sight, she sighed silently. She rubbed a place at the back of her neck that felt like it had been scratched.
“Well?” Schaefer demanded.
“Well, what?” Regina asked.
“What now?”
“I’m a mercenary, not a diviner,” Regina replied, but fear was rising from a deep corner of her soul. A voice whispering of her impending death, that night. Followed by a dark mocking laugh. What have you forgotten, dearie? It asked. What was important that you forgot? Regina shivered to the core realizing how every hateful, ugly word sounded, always, like her brother William.
The door rattled as it opened. Two guards appeared at the threshold and beckoned for them to come out. Ten’Daertha stepped from behind them.
“I am disappointed in you, Captain Fitzwaters,” she said simply, as if discussing the weather. “You were good. I thought you might have a bright future here.”
“Unfortunately, all my employers demand my loyalty, and that seems to explicitly include dying for them.”
“Loyalty may be difficult for a mercenary to understand,” Ten’Daertha said. “It does not shift from employer to employer. True loyalty is about the values of life. Only becoming a mercenary would make a Merrovigian cast her lot with these Eressians.”
“It’s my job. They are my current employers,” Regina said.
“Is it that simple? Too shallow, Captain, for a war veteran. Have you forgotten what they did to your people at Hildenburg?”
Regina pursed her lips. Schaefer’s brow creased.
“I don’t like the way you have abused my goodwill, Fitzwaters. Nevertheless, no blood was spilt. I like less what will follow, although it is not my place to judge. Against that, I offer you a last opportunity. I conclude that you have what it takes to join the guard here: come with us, pledge loyalty to Korthi – alone – and we’ll forget this debacle.”
“What about the others?” Regina asked through clenched teeth.
“The princesses and the countess are safe. The others I can do nothing for.”
“Jaeger?” Regina asked.
“Him least of all. The Young Duchess really has an axe to grind with him.”
“He has a magical way of making friends wherever he goes.” Regina stopped and bit her lip. “Does– does Francesco Di Angelo know I’m here?”
Ten’Daertha’s eyebrows met. “Should he? He goes through women the way other men go through shirts. I wouldn’t count on him remembering you.”
Regina did her best to look disappointed. If Francesco got wind that she was there, things would get considerably worse.
“I’m sorry. The Eressians are my employers and no great loss there, but my team is like family. I can’t leave them.”
“Then avenge them. Never trust a person who can’t hold a grudge,” Ten’Daertha said. “My people have vendettas that span centuries. Generations get wiped out, and honor and loyalty are upheld. As a person of honor, Captain, I say good luck to you -and for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.” She turned and strode away.
The guards escorted Regina and Schaefer down a narrow corridor. Sorry? For what? Regina wondered as she emerged into a large chamber. The red brick walls were lined with weapons racks; swords, shields, spears, maces, rope nets. Iron shackles hung from the wall.
A large man pulled a thick wooden lever and the guards shoved her and Schaefer forwards into a small dark alcove. There was a thunderous crash of metal as the portcullis door slammed down behind them. It was mirrored by another ahead. Regina’s eyes adjusted to the darkness. With a clanking of chains, the wooden cover of the portcullis in front of them was hauled up, and a roar rushed into the tiny space. Regina struggled to take in what she saw. A vast arena, its surface covered in sand, enclosed by a high wall topped by seating filled with ladies in their ball gowns and many in their dancing finery. The masked spectators shouted and screamed in anticipation. Regina’s stomach tightened.
“My Ladies and Lords. Welcome to the Midnight Ball.” The arena master spoke with a loud voice from the safety of the higher stalls. Applause exploded from the crowd. “We have a special treat for your entertainment tonight. To celebrate the Carnival and the presence of our most beloved rulers, we have procured for you the rarest beasts.” He paused dramatically.
“From the Nordic Icelands, we have brought the wild and elusive white Ice Bear.” The crowd roared, like a storm wave crashing on the shore. “From the depths of the jungles of The South Across the Water, we have brought, for your delight, the majestic Golden Tiger, King of all the Beasts!” The roar reached a crescendo.
“It was our intention to finally settle the age-old question: in a fight between an Ice Bear and a Golden Tiger, who would win?” The arena master stayed silent, as he couldn’t be heard over the cheers. Regina could see the Royal Box. The Duke and the two Duchesses, young and old. Francesco di Angelo. Next to him sat Emilia. Rosamynd was wiping her tears with a handkerchief, Charlie looking subdued at her side.
“But our illustrious Young Duchess had a better idea. In a fight between these magnificent beasts and man, who would win?”
A chant rose from the crowds, first low and then rising steadily like tremors before an impending earthquake.
“Death, death, death, death.”
Another portcullis creaked open and an enormous white bear loped into the arena. Despite its size, the beast was terrified. Red stains on its flanks showed it had only been persuaded to come out by the thrusts of pointed spears. Regina held her breath. The animal was large enough on all fours to look a grown man in the eye. If it stood on its hind legs that thing would reach twelve feet. She braced herself to be thrown in the arena.
“Death, death, death–”
Chains screamed but the portcullis didn't move. Instead, into the arena stumbled two men from an adjoining cell: Jaeger and Morgenstern.
40 THE ARENA
REGINA grabbed the bars and pushed violently, as if to move them out of the way. The two men’s faces and bodies were covered in blood. She could only hope it wasn’t theirs. Schaefer banged her fists on the bars, too. The great bear, smelling the fresh blood on new arrivals, lifted its head and twitched its nose.
“Let the games begin–”
“Games? This is slaughter!” Regina shouted, pounding on the iron door. Jaeger and Morgenstern held their sabers in front of them. The bear stood upright, stretched to its full twelve feet, its jaws wide. Then it fell back down on all fours, in a cloud of dust that briefly obscured it.
“Well, it’s been nice knowing you, old boy,” Morgenstern said. Jaeger shook his head like a dog trying to shake off a tick. He couldn’t focus properly but his problems with balance were not as bad as before.
“Between us, we can take him,” Jaeger said, voice rich in false confidence.
“You think?” Morgenstern said.
“That bear wants to be here even less than we do. Granted, he’s probably not been fed for a week, and has been driven mad in a small cage by prodding, poking spears.”
The animal stood on its hind legs and growled menacingly.
“I’ll be damned if I’ll die for the pleasure of these bastards,” Jaeger said and lifted his sword. The Ice Bear slowly circled them. It stopped a few feet in front of them and sniffed. Its hunger wrestled with its fear. Growling, trails of saliva dripping from its teeth, the bear charged; and the spectators let out a collective gasp. Jaeger and Morgenstern leapt out of its path and stabbed at its side as it passed. The bear turned and swatted Morgenstern, paw catching his shoulder. Morgenstern rolled a few feet but got up. The bear launched again, and knocked the air out of Jaeger before he knew what was happening. Pinned down by its huge paws, Jaeger found the sword in his right hand trapped between him and the beast. He could only twist the edge of the sharp blade into the animal’s underbelly. The bear roared, lifted both front paws and brought one down towards Jaeger’s head. Jaeger twisted enough to avoid his skull being crushed, but the loud near-impact made his ears ring and yellow stars dance before his eyes.
Morgenstern landed a blow. The beast howled in pain. The weight on Jaeger’s chest suddenly lifted as it scampered off to the side of the arena, a puncture wound on its back, blood gushing. Then it turned, and charged for revenge. This time Morgenstern's saber met its front leg, cleaving in to the bone. The bear howled, and reared up. It brought its paws down, claws outstretched, through Morgenstern's side, shredding cloth and flesh. A second paw swiped a glancing blow, sending Morgenstern rolling. Before the bear was up and on him again, Jaeger jumped into its path and slashed its face. The crowd screamed in excitement but Jaeger knew it for a show blow, not a substance one. He slashed fast now, once to the bear’s sternum, then a slash and thrust into the belly.
The animal, mad with pain, lurched forward, despite the cuts Jaeger had inflicted, blood and fur flying. With a deafening growl through the stench of its breath, it sank its teeth into his shoulder, and lifted him off the floor and shook him like a rag. The pain was so sharp that it pierced his soul, hot blood running freely from knife-like incisors buried in his flesh. Morgenstern, up once more, charged, burying his sword to the hilt in the bear’s belly. With great effort, Jaeger twisted his saber into the animal’s chest. The bear let out a great roar and dropped Jaeger, who pulled his sword out as he fell. The great bear fell on all fours. Jaeger, drawing on strength he didn’t know he had, lifted his sword and swung at the bear’s neck. Blood showered Jaeger and Morgenstern, as the bear’s head severed, and rolled clean off a few feet away. Jaeger collapsed to his knees.
Morgenstern ran to his comrade’s side. Jaeger put a hand on the great white bear’s matted fur, red with cuts and blood. “I’m sorry,” he muttered, before Morgenstern lifted him to his feet amongst the deafening cheers of the crowd.
41 TIGER, TIGER, BURNING BRIGHT
REGINA took small, shallow breaths to tame the pain she shared with Jaeger. She heard a voice from behind them.
“That was great entertainment. Now, ladies, it’s your turn,”
Regina gasped as a bucket of warm blood was thrown over them through the gate at their backs. She wiped her brow to stop it dripping down into her eyes. The hauled portcullis squealed upwards. Two spears poked from behind them, forcing the two women forwards. The arena was empty again. Jaeger and Morgenstern had been dragged out.
Regina clutched her saber. Never in her life was she so glad about her fastidiousness in keeping it razor-sharp.
“If they throw another white bear, we’re done for,” Schaefer remarked looking round the arena at the other closed gates.
“You weren’t paying attention
, were you?” Regina said nervously biting her lip until she felt blood. Her shoulder throbbed. “They already announced what comes next.”
“My Ladies and Lords,” the arena master said excitedly. “After the previous breathtaking performance, let us enjoy another marvelous fight. The female may be deadlier than the male–” Laughter rippled round the crowd. “Let us see who will come out on top, the lady or the tiger? Unleash the king of the green jungles of the Orient, and let us see–”
“Oh my,” Schaefer whispered, readying her sword.
The northern gate opened and the animal bounded in with none of the hesitation of the bear. It came to a halt a few yards from them. Its body was ten feet long, fur bright orange, black stripes right down to the tip of its tail. It looked at them, its bright amber eyes hypnotic, with the hauteur of the jungle lord, top of the food chain. Regina and Schaefer turned to keep the animal in view as it circled.
“Death, death, death.” The crowd's chant started again and soon filled the arena, making the tiger stop circling and look to the massed audience. It returned its full attention to Regina and Schaefer.
“This is going to happen fast. Try not to get yourself killed,” Regina shouted to Schaefer.
“Thanks for the tip,” Schaefer replied, not taking her eyes from the tiger.
The tiger roared, revealing dagger teeth. Every instinct told Regina to run, but she’d trained long and hard to fight such instincts.
The tiger’s ears flattened. It crouched, let out another almighty roar and pounced. Regina and Schaefer darted apart, so that it pounced merely into a corridor of their slashing steel. The tiger passed through, landed, and turned, blood running from wounds on both sides. It made to leap at them again. Regina managed to sidestep, driving her saber into its side again as it passed, but Schaefer, caught by a flick of its paw, fell. The tiger wheeled on the spot, and went for Schaefer's neck. Regina thrust so hard at its flank, the blade almost ripped from her hand, inflicting a terrible wound on the animal. With a howl of pain, the glowing eyes now fixed on Regina. She looked in. The dark heart of the jungle looked back.