“When I get my book. You get your letter.”
The Captain nodded and left. Serena amused herself in the room, talking to Mary more about the way things were before and learning about the castle. It seemed Mary knew almost everyone who worked there.
Dinner time approached and Mary left to get her meal. Serena sat in silence before growing bored. She opened her door to see Raft and Ike still standing on either side of it. She looked down the halls, noticing they were empty.
“Get back inside,” Ike said.
“Raft. I haven’t been able to assess your skills yet. What do you want to practice tomorrow?”
“Maybe-”
“Get inside. You made a deal.” Ike said.
“Is the Captain stopping by for dinner?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Ike remained mute.
“Serena!” Mary called. Serena shut the door and turned to Mary, who placed down her dinner.
“No Captain?”
“No. Someone went missing today. One of the guards the Captain posted at your door the other day. He’s been trying to figure out what happened.”
Serena grew tense at her words. Such a disappearance would complicate things. Her mind raced with a hundred questions she would have to answer over the next few days. The most important being who. Who poisoned her? Who got rid of her guard? What answers would the book hold?
A knock at the door drew her attention. Mary walked over and retrieved an envelope from the servant. She handed it to Serena, who stared at it. Opening it revealed an invitation to after supper tea.
“Appears, you’ve been invited to the weekly after supper tea.”
“Is drinking tea all the ladies of the court do?” Serena could not imagine continuously drinking so much tea.
“The King will not let them have a book club or walk around unattended. Teatime is the only excuse they have, although I expect they will have other activities going on.” Mary ushered Serena to her feet and helped look over her outfit.
“Other activities?”
“Knitting, painting, or they might even play games.”
“I have no interest in going.”
Mary frowned. “You have to. Raft take Lady Serena to the Lady’s parlor. She’s been summoned by Lady Williams.”
Serena scowled.
“The Captain would not approve.” Ike inserted.
“She needs to keep up appearances.” Mary fixed a few strands of hair and nodded. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
Serena relented and followed Raft through the halls. They arrived at a circular room in the east wing of the castle. Here a large chandelier hung above a table full of various teas, while four curved couches surrounded the arrangement. On the couches sat seven ladies dressed in various colors. Two sat knitting while another two were working on embroidery. Serena couldn’t help but eye their needles. Perfect options as a weapon if she needed. The other sipped on tea, talking.
“Lady Serena! I’m so glad you came,” smiled a woman with heavy makeup dressed in yellow. Serena quickly surveyed for a friendly face, but found she knew none of the women present. “Sit next to Lady Raina.” She gestured to the only open seat next to a woman dressed in violent. Her blonde hair was curled to perfection around her as she smiled.
Serena sat and looked around the room, noticing the guards. One for each lady stood on either side of the four doors surrounding them. Raft took the only empty spot next to the doors. It felt like they were predators circling their prey.
“How are you enjoying court?” Lady Williams spoke.
“It’s been exciting,”
Lady Raina offered her a cup of tea, but she shook her head.
“It’s alright, dear. We don’t poison tea.” Lady Raina said.
“Although I wish I had tried to poison Georgina. She is positively dreadful. Her voice sounds like an Evion.” Lady Williams inserted. The other ladies laughed while Serena stared.
An Evion?
“Oh, I forgot. You’re a native.” Lady Williams smiled, but there was a spark of intention in her eyes. She was playing a game. “Evion’s are spirits of our ancestors. Since we can’t hear them, they scream into the wind, making loud screeching noises.”
“I see,”
“But no matter. How is your pursuit of the Captain?”
“I am not in pursuit of the Captain.” Again the women laughed.
“Of course not. If you were, the best way to capture him would be to get pregnant. He’s too noble. All the guards are.” She looked around and looked at Raft. “Raft’s fiancé used this technique as well.”
Serena felt her heart drop at the blatant disrespect. She looked over at Raft, who held steady. His eyes locked on a spot on the wall. Serena doubted it was true, especially since these women seemed to love spreading baseless lies.
“I mean, you’re already whoring yourself out. How else did you get a seat at the court dinner so quickly?”
Serena could feel her blood boil.
“My relationship with the Captain is not something I wish to discuss with those who are so quick to cast judgement.” She gritted her teeth, trying to hold herself back.
“Would you like to knit or embroider?” asked the woman across from her. Serena shook her head, not trusting herself with such sharp items in her hands. With the eyes of eight guards on them, now would not be the time to step out of line. She had a sinking suspicion these weren’t the Captain’s guards but maybe the King’s spies.
Lady Williams laughed.
“Lady Isla, she’s a native. She hardly has the class to embroider anything of value.” Serena glared at her.
“We don’t mean to pass judgment, but you must understand our skepticism. You arrived out of nowhere and the Captain seems smitten.” Lady Raina began as she busied her hands with her knitting. “He’s not one who often loses focus on his job, especially after Orion.”
“So what have you done to the Captain and what are you trying to do to the Prince? He only danced with you at the dinner.” Lady Williams growled.
Serena’s eyes narrowed as she bit her tongue hard enough she tasted blood. The metallic taste nearly sent her into a frenzy. She wanted nothing more than to kill them all for their words, but the guards would see. They would tell and she would die, or at the very least lose her cover. She looked down at the tea and poured herself a cup, letting the silence continue as she thought. The tension continued to rise as Serena took a sip of the tea and scowled. Helen’s was so much better than this bitter drink.
“I’m not sorry that my presence threatens you. It must be a rather dull and inconsequential life to spend your time mulling over every action of the men at court when you have a husband. He must not be satisfying.” Serena took another sip to punctuate her point. The room was silent as Lady William’s eyes grew wide.
“Never in my life has a savage-”
“Ah, so that’s the real problem. I’m Acrean. How predictable,”
“Lady Serena, we welcomed you here to our tea to-” Lady Raina began.
“To question me and test your theories. Let’s not continue to play this game. I am here because you want to know why the Captain, or the Prince is interested in me. I think that’s rather simple.” She paused, looking around the room at the shocked faces of the ladies. “I’m not a spineless snake starting rumors about other people because I’m unsatisfied with my life..”
Lady Williams stood. “You act like your kind with your silver tongue. We will not stand for this. You will not come into our home and steal men who deserve proper Templarian wives, not savage scum.”
Serena stood looking Lady Williams in the eyes.
“This has been my home longer than it has yours. You’re so fond of ancestors, aren’t you? Well, you’re living on top of mine. I hope they haunt you.” Serena curtsied, turning to Raft. “I’m tired, Raft. Let’s go.” Serena walked closer to Raft but stopped by the door. “Oh, and one last thing. I’m not stealing anything.
Your kind are the thieves, not mine.”
Raft led her out into the hall and closed the door behind them. Serena paused for a moment, taking a deep breath.
“I’m surprised you didn’t throw something at those vile women.” Raft commented.
“Those guards. They aren’t the Captain’s are they?” Raft stared at her. “They’re the King’s? Why was I really called in there?” A sense of dread washed over her.
“I don’t know. Those seven often invite ladies in and interrogate them for information. No one knows what happens after but…”
“But there are consequences. I’m guessing I’ve caused more work for the Captain.”
Raft gave a comforting smile.
“The Captain can handle it and anything you said in there will be blamed on your heritage. The King will ignore it, but those women will remember. They won’t test you again.”
Serena nodded, frowning. She didn’t like the feel of fitting their view of Acreans. It felt like no matter what she did, they would hate her for something.
“Let me show you something.” Raft grabbed her arm and led her to a set of stairs climbing higher and higher into the castle. They climbed a spiral staircase in what Serena realized was a tower. Raft smiled, almost laughing as he raced up. Serena bolted after him. He reached a landing and pushed open a door. A gust of cold wind blew in, swaying her skirt as his face lit up in a boyish grin. He gestured her closer and pointed out at the city of Meta for the balcony on the tower.
Serena stepped out next to him, staring. Looking down at Meta from this vantage point reminded her of jumping rooftops. There was power and serenity in the heights of buildings. The ability to see far and wide what others could not.
“I like to come up here when I’m missing Klara.” He pointed into the distance to a lamp that glowed blue. He smiled seeing it. “She puts a film around the glass, so it glows blue. It’s my favorite color.” He leaned on the railing, staring at the light. “I know she’s thinking about me. Waiting for the day we’re wed, and she is by my side forever. Up here, I feel a little closer to her. Closer to my ancestors, even.”
Serena walked closer and leaned on the railing next to him.
“Were they all soldiers?”
“No, my grandfather was a blacksmith. He hated my father joined the army. Didn’t speak to him for years until I was born. My life came at the cost of my mother’s.”
“I’m sure she’d do it again.” He smiled and looked over at her.
“You know for an assassin, you’re rather kind.” Serena scoffed. “They think guards are supposed to be mean too. The ones at the gate are terrible. So cruel and heartless. They do the job for the money, but none of this is about money.”
“Then what’s it about?”
“That blue light.” He smiled looking at it. The wonder in that blue light was everything. The simple glow in a sea of orange. Serena looked at Raft and wondered how anyone could survive with their heart on their sleeve like him. He blew a kiss to the lantern. “I should get you back. It’s getting late.”
“Thank you,”
He smiled. “Come on,” He led her back to her room and returned to his post. Serena couldn’t shake the feeling she had on that balcony. The image of the blue light haunting her, but Mary’s questions quickly changed her thoughts. She explained the events and Mary burst out laughing.
“I’m so glad you told her off! That gaggle of seven are terrible. The worse of the worse.” Serena smiled. Her mind drifted to other things that had little to do with Ladies. The castle seemed quiet now.
“Mary, are the pillows still in the wardrobe?”
Mary smiled as she collected the last of her cleaning supplies in preparation to leave for the day.
“Of course. I never took them away.”
“Thank you,”
Mary nodded her head and left. Serena opened the wardrobe, finding the maid uniform still tucked into a pillowcase. Dressed, she slipped into the corridors. Her quick steps silently moved through the halls as she searched for the royal family. She found it easy to find the Captain’s room again and drifted in another direction, hoping to find the King’s.
She found a door to a vast room and peeked inside.
“Don’t leave!” wailed the Prince’s voice. A young man dressed in only trousers left large white and gold doors in the center of the room.
“I can’t keep doing this Daryl!” the man said, pulling his discarded shirt from a chair. His well-toned body glistened with sweat as he moved. “The King will behead me if he ever finds out. He won’t kill you until he has another heir. It isn’t your life on the line!” He slid on the shirt.
Daryl rushed forwards in only braies, his eyes glued to the man.
“Please, Parker!” Daryl wrapped his arms around the man in front of him. “I don’t want to live like this any more than you.”
Parker took a deep breath before pulling away. He turned to Daryl and gently grabbed his chin, pulling him closer. He laid a gentle kiss on Daryl who greedily accepted, trying to pull him closer.
Parker pulled away and let out a breath.
“You’re the Prince. Even if your father suddenly died and you took control, we could never happen. Your culture does not believe in love between men.” His voice was so soft Serena could barely hear it.
“Things will be different when I rule. I promise you that. Acreans believe in it. I-”
“You can’t just choose to help Acreans because it’ll help you. We deserve more from a King than that.”
Parker moved to the couch. He found his boots and begun putting them on.
“I want to help Acreans because as Templarians we have a lot to atone for. Especially my family, but does that mean I must continue to live unhappy for the rest of my days? Must I continue to die a little more inside each day until I turn cruel and twisted like my father? Please, Parker. You must know-” the opening of another set of doors stopped him.
Even from her hidden door in the hall, she could feel the sudden tension. Heavy steps descended into the room.
“Kill him,” came the booming voice of the King. Serena’s blood ran cold at the words. A part of her empathized with Daryl’s predicament, but now it was no longer about wants. It was about survival.
Parker bolted to his feet, running for the servant’s door. Serena rushed away to hide but guards descended on Parker, catching him before he took more than a few steps.
“Father-"
A swift slap connected with Daryl’s face and silenced everyone. The thump of Daryl’s body hitting the floor angered Serena. She crept back to the door to watch, trying to glimpse the man she wanted dead. Her hands fisted, causing her one palm to ache from its cut. If only she had a weapon. Even Gwayne could not expect her to give up such an opportunity. No weapon. No real understanding of the layout. No idea how many guards stood in the room and the main hall.
She knew she could only spectate.
“Father,” A swift look from the King stopped him. He looked more than menacing. Serena could easily forget that the man looked at his son. His eyes pierced through him like a knife. Like the King had already killed the Prince.
The King waved at the guards, who forced Parker to kneel before him. Parker’s knees hit the marble floor with a loud thud, reminding Serena of a death bell.
“Your Majesty,” Parker began his head low. Before the King could speak, a guard punched Parker hard in the stomach. Parker let out a gasp and a groan, coughing as he tried to take a breath. Another guard spat at him. Serena looked further into the room and four more guards who stood behind the King. None of them had sympathy in their eyes. Each of them looked mean and cruel, with ragged lines on their faces.
She heard the unmistakable sound of a blade being unsheathed. It drew her attention back to the King. He had pulled his blade and dropped it before him. The metal clattered on the ground next to Daryl. The King looked down at his son.
“Kill him,”
What?
The sha
rpness in the King’s voice was nothing compared to the reality of this situation. The King wanted his son to kill the man he was sleeping with and had feelings for? The cruelty made Serena’s hand balled harder. She ignored the pain in her palm as the pain fueled the anger in her heart. This was another unforgivable act. Daryl could not do this. Nobody would.
Daryl slowly stood and picked up the blade. His arms shook as he slowly lifted his head. He looked at his father for a moment. His face was full of various emotions. The King glared back at him and for a moment she thought he might turn the blade on the King. If he attacked, she wasn’t sure she could remain idle. She’d get a blade from one of the guards holding Parker. The Captain couldn’t get mad at her for protecting the Prince, could he?
Instead, the Prince dropped his head. He shuffled his feet towards Parker.
“Say something!” Parker pleaded.
Another hard punch left Parker breathless. His head hung as he recovered, and Daryl neared. Daryl barely seemed to have the strength to hold the blade up. His whole body seemed so fragile as he stopped in front of Parker. The King stepped behind Daryl. His form towered over the Prince’s as he leaned down to his ear.
“Prove to me you are not so weak that you allow barbarians to control you.”
Daryl’s face contorted into horror as he moved the blade, pointing it at Parker’s heart. He swayed on his feet.
“I’m sorry,” he mouthed to Parker, tears collecting at the edges of his eyes.
“Do it!” yelled the King.
Daryl flinched, dropping the blade. The clattering of the metal on stone sounded like thunder.
“Sorry,” Daryl said, bending to pick it up. The King grabbed Daryl by his shirt, pulling him closer. The King’s free hand snatched his chin, forcing him to look at him.
“Do it now! Do you understand?” The King shook Daryl, who whimpered but nodded. The King dropped him. Daryl fell to his knees, rushing to pick up the sword. The King kicked him, and Daryl yelped. He got to his feet and turned back to Parker.
“Do it before I throw you back into the dungeon. Let them harden you back into a man.”
Daryl nodded, tears silently falling. He rubbed them away, his face going blank. Serena knew that look. Knew the feel of pushing your conscious mind so far away that the present felt like a dream. Survival outweighed everything.
The Death Sparrow's Shadow: The Assassin of Acreage Book One Page 11