Nightshade

by Shea Godfrey

  It was not exactly the way of things as they stood, but the words were true enough and Darry felt comfortable with them. “And I’m very tired of trying. I’m tired of it. That my love is not good enough for them? I find this unacceptable, and so I’ve broken with my blood and my King.”

  Bentley saw how Darry held her hand back and saw the blood on her sleeve and staining the leg of her trousers. He was not the only one. He narrowed his eyes as he searched past her, seeing Emmalyn standing beneath the entrance that led to the foyer and the staircase beyond.

  “I won’t ask you to give up what you’ve earned, for I am so very proud of you. I can’t tell you how proud.” Darry’s voice became rough as she stared at the floor, unable to face them now that she was finally saying the words. She shook her head and a long minute of silence stretched out. “I love you,” she whispered, though they all could hear her. “I love you all so very much. I am humbled when I look at you, for the happiness of such a gift, your friendship.” Jessa’s arms tightened around her and gave her strength. “I was born a Durand without any say and so made royal blood by the will of Gamar, but it was you that taught me what that could mean. And taught me the honor of such a thing. And I shall miss you all, more than you’ll ever know.”

  Arkady spoke gently into the silence that followed her words. “Why will you miss us?”

  Darry swallowed over the fist within her throat, still refusing to face them.

  “We would go with you, Captain,” Theroux spoke up.

  “Aye,” Jemin said. “I’ve had enough of this bloody uniform anyway. It has never fit me right. It’ll be good to move free once more.”

  “There are horses to be caught upon the plains,” Matthias said. “And gold to be made when we catch them.”

  “And pubs I’ve yet to see,” Lucas added, smiling. “And women that have yet to mock me.”

  “I shall hit you in the head, Darry,” Tobe Giovanni said, “if you leave me at the will of bloody Longshanks.”

  “Who will fight me in the Dance?” Etienne asked. “Not these clods.”

  “Who’ll braid my hair?” Orlando sounded genuinely disturbed. “Bentley?”

  “Gamar save us all,” Lucien muttered, and there was quiet laughter as Bentley actually blushed at the comment.

  “You would abandon me as well?” Sybok stepped forward, his voice thick with disbelief. “You would leave me, Darry?”

  Darry closed her eyes and Jessa touched her cheek. “Akasha.”

  “We’re not Darry’s Boys,” Lucien said plainly, “without you, Darry.”

  “Perhaps you’re thinking that because you’re no longer a princess or a captain, that we cannot follow you?” Arkady asked.

  “Bloody hell,” Darry said beneath her breath.

  “But you are a princess, Lady Jessa-Sirrah,” Arkday said, and Jessa looked at him in surprise. “Are you still of Lyoness?”

  “Darrius is my country,” Jessa said. “I am LaMarc, no longer de Bharjah.”

  “Then we could swear our oath to you, Princess,” Arkady proclaimed.

  Jessa could not have been more shocked had he struck her.

  “No doubt your consort could find a use for us, my Lady.”

  Darry’s eyes filled with tears though they never fell.

  Jessa’s heart ached at the struggle of it, at seeing her so helpless and vulnerable. You shall not give up everything for me, Akasha, not this as well. I’ll not allow it. “On one condition.”

  “Anything.”

  “That you never, ever dance the Mohn-Drom with my beloved again.”

  Darry gave a breathless laugh, pulling Jessa into her arms and burying her face in dark curls and the scent of jasmine.

  Every one of the men stepped forward and bent to a knee. Darry stepped back and left Jessa to stand before them. Jessa appeared decidedly uncertain and out of her depth.

  “You must accept their oath.” Darry smiled from behind her, her right hand at the small of Jessa’s back to keep her from stepping away.

  “And then what?”

  “We pack our things, my love.”

  “Do you accept us into your service, Princess?” Bentley said with a bold grin. “We are a drunken lot and our manners are poor, but we’re loyal unto the grave and would serve you until you’d have us no more.”

  “Or we die clogging a gutter somewhere,” Tobe mumbled happily, and there was laughter, including Darry’s.

  “Take us, Lady Jessa.” Arkady smiled up at her. “And I promise never to dance the Mohn-Drom with your beloved again. Though I would ask for another dance now and then, for she’s cracking good.”

  “Not even that.”

  Arkady frowned. “You’re too harsh, my Lady.”

  Jessa gave in. “Perhaps just one.”

  “Say you accept us,” Bentley said kindly. “My knee is beginning to hurt.”

  “I accept you.” Jessa stepped back as they surged to their feet at her words. Darry’s right arm slipped about her and held her safe as they all stood close.

  Names were given then, one at a time as they approached. Jessa smiled and accepted their hands in introduction. They bowed their heads to her, and when she told them in an irritated voice to stop, there was happy laughter.

  “Go and see to things then,” Darry said when they stood waiting for their orders. “We’ll leave the day after tomorrow. I would see us gone before the others return from the Green Hills. If you’d like to bring anyone with you, it would appear that one or two more will make no difference.”

  “My sister?” Jemin asked, his voice hopeful.

  “Always, Jemin. Marlee is most welcome.”

  “Let’s go.” Bentley ordered and started pushing them back. “Let us go and give our lovely Grissom a seizure when we all resign at once, eh?”

  “Should I see to your hand, Darry?” Tobe approached, reaching out.

  Jessa saw the blood for the first time and grabbed Darry’s left wrist. “Tua Nahla en gitta!” she cursed, and her eyes blazed as Darry stepped back from her. “Zaneesha hoonta, Darrius Lauranna.”

  Darry gritted her teeth. “It’s nothing. Just a cut.”

  Jessa inspected the wound and saw that it would need stitches as fresh blood seeped forth. She understood at once that it had been self-inflicted, a symbolic breaking of her blood. The Durand line had been sliced apart.

  “Nothing?” Jessa snapped, trying to ignore her sadness. If there was a line of the Blood that did not deserve such a thing, it was the line of Durand. She had learned that much at least. Despite their mistakes and their rivalries, they had shown her what a family could be. “Patra sillas, I am loving a fool.” She growled and then scolded her again as laughter rang out among the soldiers around them watching Darry humbled and berated beneath her lover’s worry.

  Darry grabbed her and kissed her, and though Jessa tried to argue against it, Darry’s tongue slid past her lips and Jessa moaned, giving in. Their love had been declared and they were free.

  Bentley chuckled, reaching out as his boot crowded another foot. Nina Lewellyn stepped back from him and looked up as he brushed her elbow. “Would you care to give your oath to the country of Darrius?” he asked her with a grin.

  Nina stared at him.

  His smile faded as he regarded the pain in her eyes, a flush of heat moving through his chest at the sight of it.

  “I’ve just lost a kinsman, Lord Greeves, and one of my favorite people in all the world.” The insult was clear within her voice. “And though my heart is full that she’s found love at last, no doubt I’m about to watch as my family is torn apart. Your careless charm is not welcome, thank you.”

  “I’m sorry, Lady Lewellyn,” Bentley replied in all sincerity, stepping closer as Etienne bumped into him from behind. “Honestly, I meant no offense. I love this family well. I know the pain here, most certainly better than you do. I wasn’t making light of it.”

  “Weren’t you?”

  “No. But I’m happy at the hope of a new
life for us all, and my dearest friend has her love well in hand. I’ll not apologize for feeling joy at that.”

  Darry’s Boys retreated the way they had come, their talk bursting forth as to their unexpected future. There was laughter and most definitely joy. “I would not have you apologize,” Nina replied in a quiet, sullen voice. “I’m sorry at my tone.”

  “What would you have me do then, to make your eyes smile?”

  “Try putting on a shirt,” Nina answered dryly, and walked away.

  “You stink as well,” Etienne said, stepping up behind him.

  “Shut your mouth, Blue.”

  Etienne laughed and set a hand on his shoulder. “The pretty girl doesn’t like you, I think. Perhaps she might find blue eyes more to her pleasure.”

  “No doubt,” Bentley replied. “How do you feel about buying some wagons?” He turned away from Nina’s retreating figure.

  “We should get Theroux.”

  “All right, do it. I’ll meet you in the yards.”

  “What about you?”

  “Why, I’m going to find a shirt, of course,” he replied, spinning Etienne about and following him close. He glanced over his shoulder, but the Lady Lewellyn appeared to have forgotten all about him.

  *

  Jessa lay on her left side, her arm propped on the pillows of her bed. Darry lay beside her, tucked close along her body. Jessa held her left hand, the heavy gauze brown with the stain of the herbs she had applied over Darry’s wound. “Not exactly how I wanted you in bed.”

  Darry smiled. “The night is still new.”

  Jessa enjoyed the suggestion, though she could hear Darry’s pain beneath it. “Yes, well, I think you’ve had enough excitement for one day.”

  Darry turned her head toward her. “Thank you, Jess.”

  “I did nothing.”

  “They’re my friends.”

  “They love you even as I do. And besides, the trouble that my Radha will cause will be twice as bad. They shall all rue the day.”

  Darry laughed quietly, turned her face back to the pillow, and shifted closer. Jessa obliged her and lifted her right knee, accepting Darry’s leg between her own. “She’s not even said that I’m suitable for you. We might have a problem if she finds me lacking.”

  “I promise, my love, that will never be an issue.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I am, and aside from that, my Radha loves me. She’ll not say no.”

  Darry lifted her head from the pillow and glanced toward the end of the bed. “She’s not in here now, is she? Using some Vhaelin trickery?”

  Jessa laughed. “No.”

  Darry flopped her head back down. They lay in silence for some time and Jessa saw how tired Darry was. She wished that she would sleep. Wished that she could take away the pain. “Will Hinsa come with us?” she asked. Darry’s eyes darkened and filled with tears. Jessa’s heart twisted and she bent over as a tear slid across the bridge of Darry’s nose. She kissed it away. “You must ask her.”

  “A better life, Jess.” Darry spoke softly. “We shall find a better life.”

  Jessa smiled and pulled closer. “You have already given me that, Akasha,” she said, and was happy despite the uncertainty of their position. “Let us find a life of freedom as well, yes? It is a full moon this night, a night of prophecy. ’Tis a good promise to make, yes?”

  Darry nodded and kissed her again. “Yes…yes, that sounds right.”

  About the Author

  Shea Godfrey is an artist and writer working and living in the Midwest. While her formal education is in journalism and photography, she has spent most of her career thus far in 3D Animation and Design.

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