“Go down, I’ll hold it for both of you,” I wrapped the end of our rope around my waist. “One, you first, then Two, then Nanna, and you’ll catch me last.”
Two scratched his nose. “You can’t hold me, I’m too big and heavy.”
I spread my legs around the hole and looked up at Two. “We don’t have time, just go down the rope fast as you can. I can hold it.”
“M’lady Samalia, you should stay,” One said with surprising affection.
Nanna crouched and slid down the rope, fast as a scurrying mouse. It caught me by surprise. Her weight wasn’t substantial, but her actions had me grasping for cloth. Two was there in a flash, wrapping his arms around me and helping me keep the rope.
“It’ll hold,” she said when the pressure of her weight released.
I turned my face up. “You next.”
One grumbled but took off his sword belt and whispered through the hole. “Catch, you old biddy.”
Once he dropped the mass of knives, sword, and leather, I waited to hear it hit ground. There was silence.
I peered down. Nothing but darkness. “Nanna?”
“Shush, child.”
One tried sliding in and got caught by his barrel chest. Silent as I could, I giggled. It was too much to see a man captured by a hole in the ground, wiggling to get free.
“He’s ticklish,” Two said. I gave him a wicked smile.
“Traitor,” One hissed, and he wiggled for everything he was worth. His jostling was enough to break him free and he fell through. The coat nearly wrenched out of my grasp. Thank all that Two was there, holding his friend with me. The rope swayed and I could feel One scrambling to reach ground. When he did my arms ached from the use.
“You now,” I said.
“Are you sure, m’lady?”
Angry, I bit out, “I can hold you so long as your weight is steady.”
He took off his sword belt and dropped it as he whispered. “Watch it.”
A quiet male “oomph” sounded.
Two chuckled. He was not as round or tall as One and was able to slide through the hole easily. Not to say holding him was easy. I spread each of my legs on either side of the entrance, letting my arms take most of the weight. I bit my lower lip at the pressure and clung to the end of the coat.
When the tension released, I dropped the rope. My knuckles and the sockets of my arms throbbed. After rubbing my fingers straight, I whispered, “Ready?”
“Yes,” One replied.
I took a breath, knowing I was putting my life in the hands of one of King Goththor’s soldiers. Taking the time to dwell on trusting One would have Darrin paying the cost. I tucked Darrin’s sword to my center and leapt. My scream lodged at the base of my throat. Tree-trunk arms caught me. A sigh of relief and I was on my feet. “Thank you for not dropping me.”
He could have. Probably wanted to. “If you’re really trying to save Prince Goththor, then you’re welcome.”
“Shush!” Nanna admonished.
The light that filtered down from above didn’t help us see down below. Nanna’s gnarled hand took mine and I grabbed One’s hand. “Grab your fellow guard,” I said. We started walking a sharp path down.
“Stairs,” Nanna said. The path turned into a circular staircase. I could only tell from the wall’s curved guidance and the arc in which Nanna and One walked.
“Can you see?” I asked Nanna.
“No,” she whispered. “Know it by memory. Now shush.”
We walked through darkness and silence and stairs. If Nanna and One weren’t holding my hands, I might have turned around to go back, thinking I was just going in circles on an endless spiral. Nanna kept on until my legs ached from going around stairs. A small glimmer of light bounced around the curved wall. Then we stopped. Nanna’s whisper was authoritative. “Alexia, you go first. Distract the guard, but stay out of my line of sight. We’ll follow until I let go of your shoulder, but I won’t be far away. You have a sword?”
My voice sounded meek. “Yes.”
“Good. Use it if you have to.”
My heart dropped. I already knew I couldn’t kill a man. I might be able to defend myself, but if I had to kill to get to Darrin…
Nanna pushed me forward and I looked back. Only the glint of her eyes reflected light. “Nanna?”
“Do you want your prince or not?”
“I’ll go.” One growled low.
“No.” Nanna said. “They’re expecting you. They think she’s on their side right now. That’s the advantage.”
I swallowed and righted the baldric so the sword would be in its right place to draw.
“You’re a good fighter, Alexia.” Nanna cupped her thin fingers on my cheek. “But Fieron and I always knew you didn’t have a man’s fierceness. You have your mother’s heart and it’s why he never let you on a real battlefield.”
“But I have to get Darrin.” My eyes pricked at her truth and my uselessness in the moment.
“And that’s why you brought me and them.” Her hand dropped to my shoulder. “You’re just the distraction.”
I was incensed and relieved at the same time. Frustration propelled me forward. The light grew brighter, and I passed a wall torch. That’s when Nanna’s hand let go of my shoulder. I sucked in a breath, reminding myself she was right behind me. My hesitation saved my neck. I turned around a curve and a sword point awaited me. Halting, I saw the blade disappear into a dark inlet. I wasn’t sure if man or stone held the point at my throat. The alcove was perfect to ambush someone like me rushing down the stairs.
“Princess Alexia, what are you doing down here?” a gruff male voice said from the dark recess.
“I want to see the bastard,” I said.
The sword point slid away. Air pushed at my ear. An object went flying past, into the alcove. A large hand over my mouth and a tree-trunk arm twirled me into the side wall. A large body pressed against my back. Lips whispered in my ear. “Shush, princess,” One said.
I nodded and he let me go. I heard the quiet sounds of gurgling. Nanna, her eyes hard and ruthless, came out of the shadows. Replacing her bodice dagger, she pressed a finger to her lips then pointed down. I thought the thud of my heart would give me away in this silent tomb. She’d killed a man. Her effortless dispatch was calm. Her eyes shone with no remorse. A chill swept down from my head to my middle. I could not do what Nanna could. So I did what I could do and walked, carefully, down the stairs.
Another Black Knight stood at a door. Nanna threw her dagger into the man’s throat and both One and Two cut the man’s head off before he could scream. The door lead to an empty corridor that opened into a cavern of spikes, torture tools, and death. The mere smell of the place was mold and fear. The farther I went in, the worse it got. I stopped when I saw him fifteen feet away. Darrin was naked, strung up by his arms, head hung low, toes barely touching the ground and blood trickling down his legs. By the looks of it, they’d been torturing him for the past three hours.
He lifted his head, saw me, and gave me that lifeless cruel smile. He thought I was responsible for this. My eyes widened and I shook my head no. This wasn’t me. Disbelieving, he flicked his eyes beyond me and dropped his head. I froze and made my face a mask. Knowing he couldn’t be unguarded, I scanned the area. Two men, swords in hand, studied me.
Straussler and his first mate Yarwood were two of the finest Black Knights my father ever had. That they survived was not surprising. “Well done, gentlemen.” I smiled.
Yarwood smirked, but Straussler kept his guard up. “This is no place for a princess.” Straussler’s tone was disapproving.
Yarwood turned and swung his sword in the air. A metal-on-metal twang, and then Nanna’s dagger clamored to the ground. Nanna stood at the bottom of the stairs while One and Two swarmed in. They’d be cut to mincemeat in seconds by the Black Knights. Straussler seemed to have the same opinion, and instead of going off to meet them with Yarwood, my father’s man-at-arms came after me. Releasing my sword, I me
t one of my former teachers with steel. Without effort he backed me off—until we got to Darrin. Straussler lunged for my husband and I blocked. The twisted hate of Straussler’s expression was a force unto itself. I wanted to cry, beg for Darrin’s life, but Straussler was a man immune to a woman’s charms.
“How easily your loyalties change,” Straussler said.
“Perpetuating this venom will leave all of us dead.”
“As it should be.” Straussler lunged at me. I parried, and playing by Black Knight rules I kicked him in the shin.
“Straussler!” Yarwood fought One and Two, and Nanna was sliding behind them, toward her dagger. Straussler turned and ran towards Nanna, but the crafty old woman was faster than she looked and jumped back behind One and Two. Goththor’s soldiers were a better match for the Black Knights than I’d thought. One seemed too heavy to be fast but I was wrong. Two seemed unstable and inaccurate if you gauged him by his walk, but again I was wrong about his fighting capabilities. Together they fought like water and stone. Two flowed around One, bounding from behind his companion in unpredictable ways. One threw a sword so hard and fast all you could do was block. An unusual combination. They worked well together.
My eyes met Darrin’s and his expression was of confusion. He was trying to figure my reasoning and course of action.
“Stay still,” I said, rising to my tiptoes.
He huffed. I might have been small, but I knew where the tip of my blade cut. I swung, and cut the rope above his hands. He fell in a heap even though I tried to catch him. Darrin gritted his teeth and winced. “Up, up, up.”
I cut his hands free and got him to his feet. My hand felt sticky and wet.
“I can stand,” Darrin said.
When I pulled my arm away, blood covered me from hand to shoulder. I stepped to look at his back.
“Oh!” My free hand flew to my mouth. His backside was sliced in long, thin cuts as if they were making sinew. My fingers trembled. His blood smudged on my lips, but I didn’t care.
“Is there a way out?” Darrin said. “I don’t think I can fight, but I can run.”
My husband was practical. Unlike me. I had enough bravado to get the both of us in trouble. But in this case, I was happy not to have a man like my father, who would insist on killing himself on principle. I looked around and saw no obvious escape.
A yowl. Two shouted.
Straussler found his opponents’ weakness. “Finish them,” he said to Yarwood.
We didn’t have much time. “Give me the sword,” Darrin said.
I pulled out my bodice dagger and slapped the handle in his palm. I turned just in time to hold Straussler from cutting me in half.
“Hiding behind a woman’s skirts, Goththor?” Straussler said.
Darrin blew out a breath. “I’m more afraid of your women than your war-hardened soldiers. She was the only one able to wound me in that so-called battle.”
A tiny spark of pride shone in Straussler’s eyes for me. But it died into disappointment and anger. I knew how he felt. But the killing had to stop or nothing would be left of Allsveil. Nothing left of my father’s legacy. But even if the entire town was torn down, our riches scattered, and our name died, I was his legacy. Through me, King Fieron Tyilasuir would live. His name would be whispered. His life would be sung. And through my will, I would live. Calm dressed me in its quiet. My heart stilled and my mind silent, I was a being that would protect myself, my husband, and our children that would be—my father’s legacy.
Straussler pulled back as if what he saw was a miracle. As if he saw the warrior inside. And then he smiled and said, “Show me your resolve.”
We danced more than fought. It was effortless. My dress swirled, confusing my opponent. I heard everything and nothing. I saw everything, yet held only Straussler in my focus. I knew that Darrin fought with Yarwood. I knew that someday, my husband and I would dance as I did now, but not for our lives—only for fun. I knew that Nanna finally reached her own weapon and threw it into the eye of Yarwood. I saw One and Two being tended to by Samalia. Through the haze of my peripheral vision I knew Darrin held a sword and readied to take my fight away from me. That’s when I decided to end this game between me and Straussler. My sword sliced through flesh—clean, easy, and fatal. The point struck his heart. Straussler stood, hanging on to life. But his grimace had a satisfied air about it. “You are your father’s daughter. And now I am free.”
He was dead when he hit the ground. Only then had I understood what I’d done. I crumpled to the floor, crying on Straussler’s chest. Mourning the death of an era, of a teacher, of a man loyal to his king, and for a father. If I’d thought about what I was doing, I would never have been able to kill Straussler. Reality rushed back into my mind. The death. The hate. Revenge. I prayed it was over. I crawled the two feet towards Darrin. Hands clasped together in prayer, eyes blurred with tears, I quivered. “Forgive me.”
A sword crashed to the ground by my side. Darrin crumpled into a ball around me, holding me in his arms. “I never wanted to fight.”
14 - Alexia
I sat in my chair looking down at the chess pieces I could move on the board. Our rematch wasn’t so much about winning the game as it was about replacing that night with a new one. A month after that horrible day, I’d sent an invitation challenging him for a rematch and he’d come with boots, pants, and tunic. I had him naked in five moves. It took him a little longer to remove all of my clothes, but he didn’t seem to mind. It did bother me that his king piece was elusive and hard to pin down. We were both bare, but I was still trying to win the game. Darrin sat stark naked in his chair, stroking himself to distract me. I didn’t think he cared who won or lost.
I moved my piece. “Check.”
His expression relaxed; his movements were languid. I blushed at what he was stroking but pretended ignorance. Taking his time to examine the board he said, “It would please me if you watched.”
Heat rose from my chest to my face. He laughed. “Shy and yet battle ready.”
“I’m not battle ready.” Feeling tiny, I pulled my legs up and my toes in while hiding my eyes behind my knees. Darrin gasped. I peeked up and his hand had stilled, his gaze fixated on my privates like they were crown jewels. He swallowed and flicked his eyes up to mine. “Such a shame to cover your lovely breasts.”
Scowling, I put my legs down. Sweeping a glance over the board, he moved out of check. “Spread your legs and I’ll tell you how to win.”
I rolled my eyes and moved a piece. “Check.”
“Nope.” He tapped the head of a bishop.
I winced, realizing that if I moved I’d be in check. Looking closer at the board, I realized… “How long have I been in checkmate?”
Darrin smiled and continued stroking a very long, hard muscle that grew in size every passing minute. “I don’t know.”
Yes he did. Exasperated at being too distracted to notice facts, I raised my arms. “You win.”
Darrin tried very hard to keep that heart-throbbing smile from emerging.
“Go ahead, you can gloat.”
That warm smile broke free. “May I have my prize?”
I snorted. “What do you want?”
“Bed me,” he whispered, his face hopeful.
My heart leapt in both fear and anticipation. “All right.”
But we didn’t move. I looked at the bed, thinking about the last time we were there. I’d tried to kill him and he wanted to return. Brave man. Or stupid. No, not stupid, because he looked at the bed with wary concern. With a set jaw, he stood and offered a hand. I rose too, taking his hand.
“I won’t hurt you.” His eyes proved it in their soft expression.
Trusting him and not looking back I said, “I won’t hurt you.”
~ End ~
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The Spoils of Allsveil
Dark Heart Heroes #2
Copyright © 2014 SNMcKibben
ISBN: 978-1-939564-38-2
Cover Design: asharceneaux
Editors: Dana T.
Marcia Abramson
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This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, events, incidents and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.
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The Spoils of Allsveil: Dark Heart Heroes #2 Page 10