“I am coming for you!” He crashed toward the forest, the light from the lantern he held bobbing haphazardly.
“No! Just stay there! Please!” The light zigzagged toward me, then away from me in the wrong direction.
Just stay there. Be there for me.
“Madeline,” Malachi called. “Don’t you think it’s time you stop running?”
Hell, no!
“Leave me alone!” I hollered. “I have done nothing wrong.”
“That’s not what Sister Ana told me.”
I tripped out into the meadow. Samuel’s lantern was about a hundred yards away. “Samuel!” I yelled. “Stay there!” But we were both headstrong and he listened to me about as much as I did to him.
We raced toward each other. He lowered the lantern onto the ground, swept me up in his arms and hugged me so very tight. “I am so sorry,” he said and kissed me once on my lips, tore himself away, and stared into my eyes. “I am so very, sorry. Gaspar insisted I prepare for the transportation of the prisoners. I tried to get away—”
“Where are your manners, Madeline?” Malachi walked toward us, holding his empty hands out to either side, in an obvious ploy to show that he was weaponless.
I broke into a sweat, not knowing whether it was from exertion or terror.
“Why don’t you introduce me to your friend?” Malachi asked.
Samuel’s eyebrows slammed halfway up his forehead and his hand discretely found his knife.
My hands trembled, and I pulled away from him, but not before he saw my dread.
“Greetings, sir,” Samuel said. “It seems you are looking for a young woman named Madeline. Unfortunately, you are mistaken. This woman is called Nadja. She is not your Madeline.”
Malachi laughed. “You’re picking up new skills, Madeline. I’m proud of you.”
My breath grew ragged as my chest grew tight and panic began to close down my throat.
“Normally, sir, I would invite you back to our camp for a meal and hospitality,” Samuel said, “However, I am not allowed to offer comforts to strangers tonight.” He pulled a small silver coin from a pouch and held it out to him. “Take this instead. There is a village a close walking distance from here. Perhaps your Madeline is there.”
Malachi shook his head and started laughing so hard he coughed a few times. He thumped his fist on his chest. “Seriously, Madeline. You didn’t tell him yet?”
I shook my head.
“You know this man?” Samuel asked.
I didn’t know what to say. But I had to say something. I had to come clean and tell Samuel the truth. I didn’t belong here. I wasn’t Nadja. I didn’t know the message I was supposed to deliver. Too many people were dying around me and he couldn’t be next.
I would not allow it.
When the woman from the forest called out, “Ana is gone, Malachi! She wouldn’t listen to me. You need to come back here. Now.”
“Perhaps you need to come here, instead,” he hollered. But his request was met with silence. Malachi grinned. “Women. They want one thing and then they change their minds and want another. He bowed to Samuel. “Unfortunately, my presence is requested elsewhere. I’m certain we’ll meet up again, later. Until then, I bid you farewell.” He turned and jogged toward the woods.
“Do you know him, Nadja?” Samuel asked and clasped my trembling hands in his as I watched Malachi leave.
“I’ve seen him before. He lurks in the shadows of places I visit,” I said. “He scares me.”
“He is gone for tonight. This man is most likely a charlatan, a petty thief, or a fool.”
“What happens when he returns?” I asked.
“If that happens, I will take care of it,” Samuel said.
When Malachi stopped in his tracks and swiveled. “You are Lord Samuel Pacheco, right?”
Samuel flinched and his brows furrowed. “No,” he said. “I am Lord Samuel De Rocha.”
“Pacheco, De Rocha,” Malachi said. “I get all the Spanish nobility surnames mixed up. I ran into a messenger who asked me to relay news to you. Your father wanted you to know that he has safely crossed into France.” Malachi tossed the silver coin back at him, but Samuel stood frozen, and it fell onto the ground. “Thank you for your charity. But I’ve never been a beggar and I won’t be needing this.”
~ thirty ~
I was a nervous wreck as we made our way back into camp. Samuel’s face was white and he didn’t appear all that calm either.
We should have been settling down for the night. But instead the camp was filled with movement. Tomasis saddled the horses. Miri stuffed packages of food and drink into a few satchels.
Gaspar rode toward us. “Where were you? Never mind. We depart for Coimbra shortly with the prisoners. Hurry up.”
“Why?” I asked. “I thought we were leaving in the morning.”
Gaspar sighed. “You don’t need to know why!” He frowned and rode away.
“I am sick and tired of the class issues,” I whispered to Samuel.
“You are a gypsy,” Samuel said.
“I am a person.”
“You are a girl,” he whispered.
“I am a person!” I hissed.
Samuel frowned. “Gaspar,” he said. “I thought the plan was to leave at first light. Why do we travel tonight?”
Gaspar swiveled. “Because King Pedro received word of a possible plot to free the prisoners. He wants Inêz’s assassins in his castle dungeon, now. By the way, whatever you did for my horse worked, thank you. He no longer flinches.”
I touched Samuel’s wrist. “Thank you,” I said, “I’ll go help Miri get ready to leave.”
“No need,” Gaspar said. “You gypsies are staying.”
“Why?” I asked.
“I have never met a peasant who asks so many questions. Who takes such liberties with her life and her duties,” Gaspar said. “I insist you stop questioning everything and simply take orders.”
“Fine!” I said. Good God, it was all I could do to not tell him that women earned the right to vote in the early 1900s. I feared his head would explode. “Tell us what to do,” I said.
“A spare cart has been disguised to make it appear as if it still holds the prisoners. One of our men remains to complete the deception of guarding them. Tomasis will assist him.”
“I will stay behind,” Samuel said. “I will help with the ruse.”
“No, you will not,” Gaspar said. “You are needed on our trip back to the castle. What if my horse has more problems?”
“Wait a minute,” I said. “So you’re saying that we’re sitting ducks? We’re decoys? We could be murdered in an attack to free the assassins!”
“Yes. That is exactly what I am saying. You are loyal servants of King Pedro of Portugal,” Gaspar said. “We all are.” He pressed his heels into his horse’s flanks and rode off.
“I will talk Gaspar into letting me stay,” Samuel said.
“Don’t,” I said. “Suspicions are high and paranoia is running rampant. He’s acting weird. Just go. We’ll be okay.”
“But—” Samuel said.
“You once left me by the side of a road because you were worried people would put two and two together and come after us.”
“I regret that,” he said.
“If you stay, the same thing could happen. I’ll be okay. Find me at the castle?” I asked.
“My Lady.” He knelt on one knee in front of me, took my hand in his, and kissed it. “I would find you anywhere.”
~ ~ ~
We survived our night of deception with one royal guard watching over us. I was so wired after seeing Malachi that I had a hard time falling asleep. My mind did flip-flops as I tried to figure out why he was here.
Was Malachi here to kill me? If so—he hadn’t tried very hard. Was he here to set the prisoners free? That didn’t make any sense. Why was he talking with Sister Ana in the forest? It was odd that she never returned to camp tonight, but in a strange way, I was relieved. I didn’t think I could
keep up the pretense that I didn’t realize she was a Hunter. Had she murdered Jorge? That would make sense. That also scared the crap out of me. And who was that other woman in the ancient gnarled forests; the one who called to Malachi?
I must have nodded off when Miri jostled my arm and woke me. “Already?” I asked.
“I was nice. I let you sleep in past dawn,” Miri said.
“You’re too good to me.”
“I agree,” she said. “I could use some help packing up.”
I yawned, opened my eyes, stretched my arms, glanced around, and saw the most glorious day unfolding in medieval Portugal. The grass was green and the remaining chickens clucked as they fearlessly high-stepped around camp. Scout wandered from tent to tent, greeting everyone with a few downward dogs and sloppy kisses on their cheeks.
“We leave in a few minutes,” Tomasis said. “We’ll eat on the road. Miri, can you and Nadja arrange that?”
“For you, many things could be arranged.” Miri winked and Tomasis grinned back at her, smitten.
“Scout!” I put my fingers to my lips and whistled. “Get over here! I need to beautify you before we return to the palace.” My dog raced to my side. I buried my nose in his furry face, hugged him, and burst into tears.
“What is wrong with you?” Miri asked as she loaded our camping gear into the back of the cart.
“It’s all coming to an end.” I wiped away tears. “Jorge is dead, two of the assassins have been captured, and our search party will dismantle. We’ll go back to our normal lives and we’ll never see each other again. It’s all over.”
And it would be. If I successfully time traveled back to my home, Scout would no longer be my dog, Miri would no longer be my friend, and I’d leave Samuel behind—again.
I wasn’t sure if my poor heart could bear the burden of being broken another time.
Miri sighed, and pulled me tight to her in a massive hug. “No matter what life holds for us, Nadja, we will always be friends.”
“Ladies!” Tomasis climbed into the cart’s driver’s seat. “Please give me the pleasure of your company.”
“But what about Sister Ana?” I asked as we hopped onto the back of the cart.
“If Sister Ana sees fit to stay out all night,” Tomasis slapped the reins on the back of the ponies, “then Sister Ana can find her own way back to Coimbra.”
~ ~ ~
Nine hours later, we were back in the bustle of the capitol. The royal flags had been changed; the new colors reflected King Pedro’s rule. Our caravan’s sole remaining guard left immediately and the majority of the peasants disbanded.
Miri and I watched as Tomasis squatted, hugged Dario, and whispered. The boy walked the few steps to Miri and bowed to her. “It is my supper to meet you, Maid Miri,” he said. “I am Dario.”
“It is your ‘honor’ Dario.” Tomasis prompted.
“An honor to meet you as well, Dario.” Miri knelt next to him, squeezed his hand, and smiled.
“Will I see your beautiful face later tonight?” Tomasis asked.
Her father waddled toward us. “No! Stop your lollygagging, Miri. It is past time you returned to your family’s business!”
She sighed and pushed herself to standing. “I think, Tomasis, my answer is a definite yes.” She smiled at him and reluctantly followed her father.
I wasn’t allowed to take Scout into the palace with me so I entrusted him to Tomasis and Dario’s care. “Take good care of my baby.” I buried my face in the ruff around Scout’s neck, hugged him tight, kissed his gorgeous head, and ruffled his fur as he wagged his tail.
“Are you trying to squeeze him to death?” Tomasis asked.
“Papa, he has such big teeth,” Dario said.
I let Scout go and shoved back tears. My dog barked and wagged his tail. Dario ran to him, dropped to his knees and tried to peer inside his mouth.
“Dario! Do not touch his teeth,” Tomasis said. “Do you like your teeth being touched?”
I started giggling as I wiped away a few tears.
“Do not worry, Nadja,” Tomasis said. “We will treat him like he is royalty in our home. Besides, you will see this mongrel soon enough.”
“Right,” I said knowing that the odds of that weren’t great. “Right.”
He whistled to Scout who ran toward him wagging his tail. “Let us go play for a bit, yes?” The boys walked off together, happy.
~ ~ ~
Now that I was back in the castle, I thought King Pedro would summon me for a de-briefing of sorts. But no such thing happened. After several hours had passed, I prowled the premises hoping to run into Samuel.
There was excitement in the air as peasants and the help scurried about preparing for a party. Aromas of roasted meats, fine spices, and mulled wine wafted from the kitchens. I peeked inside the main one and saw the makings of a huge feast. Outside the grand hall I spotted a handful of men lugging two large, gilded ornately carved chairs into the room. “Be careful,” a man said who was overseeing the workers.
“You try lugging these thrones, Juan. I think they have boulders in them.” A beefy man rested the chair down and wiped his sweaty brow. “What on earth does King Pedro want them moved here for?”
“How would I know?” Juan asked. “Besides, it is not your job to ask questions.”
They situated the thrones front and center on a low stage deep into the room. All these preparations had to be for King Pedro’s coronation party, or at least a fancy
celebration. After all, two of Inêz’s assassins were caught, justice would finally be served, and I hoped His Highness would be able to forgive himself, parent his children, and find a better nickname than “The Cruel.”
Someone pinched my arm and I jumped.
“Oh, Nadja!” Miri said. “We are finally back in the safety of the palace and there is to be a great party! Are you as excited as I am?”
“I’d be more excited if people would stop sneaking up on me,” I said.
“We are home and you have nothing to worry about! I have to cook and you have to serve, but I have a feeling tonight will be so much fun! Come! Let us get ready. I think I shall wear my fanciest dress tonight.”
“That means you’ve already butchered the pigs?”
“You know me so well.” She smiled. “Hurry!”
~ thirty-one ~
I wore the gorgeous red gown that Jorge dug up and gave me the day I was baptized. The first time I pulled it over my head and smoothed the skirt, I felt embarrassed. The dress was clean, but worn, and the silk was frayed in spots. Now it was the most beautiful dress I’d ever seen. The gown was still too big for me so I borrowed a corset from one of my skinny roommates. Miri pulled on its strings and helped cinch it tight around my waist.
She combed my hair and braided locks, arranging them so that they wrapped along the side of my head and fell down my back. “Oh, Nadja,” she said. “You look so beautiful.”
“You do, too,” I said. Miri’s complexion was pale, her cheeks flushed with excitement, and her eyes sparkling. “You look like a girl who’s in love.”
“I have no idea what you are talking about.” She blushed.
“You have every idea what I’m talking about,” I said.
“I never thought I would meet someone like Tomasis, let alone believe he would fancy me. Come on. We have work to do. If I am lucky, I will be kissing the most handsome man in all of Portugal under the moonlight after King Pedro’s festivities.”
~ ~ ~
Torches flickered high on the walls illuminating the grand hall. Garlands of pine branches draped over the tables and hung in decorative arrangements on the wall. The room smelled like a musty forest with a hint of sweetness that seemed familiar but I couldn’t place it.
King Pedro sat at the head of a table in the front of the hall. He was cleaned up; his hair was cut and combed. He wore spotless, rich looking clothes. Platters of food and tankards of ale and wine filled the tabletop. A few of his male friends, allies, and hig
h-ranking guards surrounded him.
The Queen Mother chatted with her Ladies several rows over. A gaggle of King Afonso’s two-faced advisors huddled on benches directly in front of His Royal Highness’ grouping. Odd that Pedro would keep them so close. I thought he would have banished them, or at least, stuck them at the worst table in the room.
Thick, majestic full-length velvet curtains had been erected in front of the thrones, concealing them from the partygoers who were pouring into the hall. The guests were a mixture of well-dressed nobility and wealthy merchants accompanied by their wives and mistresses dressed in expensive gowns and glittering jewelry. I still hadn’t laid eyes on Samuel. He had to be here. I couldn’t imagine that he’d leave without at least telling me goodbye.
I made run after run, back and forth from the kitchen to the hall; my tray piled high with food and drink on the way out, and filled with dirty plates, platters, and goblets on the return. At one point, I could swear King Pedro was staring at me. But when I met his eyes, they were blank and he turned and looked off into the distance, as if he didn’t even know who I was.
I finally spotted Samuel seated close to an exit leading away from the hall. He nodded at me curtly, rose from his seat, and maneuvered through a thick ring of guards who stood tall on alert surrounding the room. I wondered why the security was so tight.
I put my tray down in the kitchen and left to meet up with him when a guard materialized at the exit blocking my way. I backpedaled and whispered to Miri. “What’s up with all the security?”
She shrugged. “I heard there is a special celebration planned for tonight. No one is allowed in and out for a bit. Although you can probably change that man’s mind with a warm smile and a tankard of wine.”
~ ~ ~
Miri was right; a smile, some booze, and a promise to return as soon as I grabbed my wrap were all it took for the guard to let me leave the kitchen. As soon as I was out of his sight, I raced down hallways until I spotted Samuel half hidden behind a stone column.
He grabbed my hand, pulled me to him, and kissed me. “I missed you,” he said. “I’m riddled with foolish fears that played tricks with my mind and insisted I would never see you again.”
The Assassin: (Mortal Beloved Time Travel Romance, #2) Page 19