Esther's Innocence

by Benjamin Boswell

  The room quieted down as the young King stepped forward to speak. Esther—who had been following Harun as inconspicuously as possible the whole evening—had a good view of the Royals on the dais.

  “As you know,” the King began in a loud voice, “Queen Vana and I are expecting our first child.”

  Cheers and clapping echoed throughout the ballroom. It was at that moment that Esther noticed something—a small gesture between the Queen and Harun, almost too brief and small to notice. It had happened so fast that she couldn’t even pin down what kind of look it was. Esther’s eyes narrowed as a creeping suspicion began to develop in her mind. Could Harun and the Vana be…? No, that’s not possible. There’s just no where that they could have a tryst without someone seeing them. I’ve examined the palace every day for over a week and there are servants and guards and people crawling in every corner at every hour. It was only a harmless glance. A nagging suspicion kept tugging at the corner of her mind, however, as she turned her attention back to the King.

  “…and thus, after the next song, she will be retiring,” continued the King, “I’m afraid that you’ll be left with only me as your host after that.” The crowd laughed and the King stepped back, taking his wife’s hand and leading her down to the dance floor as the musicians began to play.

  Esther looked around and noticed Harun disappearing through the large door at the far end of the ballroom. It was guarded by no less than five Imperial Guardsmen. Esther sighed. Another tap on her shoulder distracted her thoughts and pulled her back to the present. Esther turned to see a young man, perhaps only a year or two older than she was standing behind her, dressed in a nicely tailored outfit consisting of a pure white, long-sleeved tunic similar to the King’s, and a black jacket.

  “Excuse me, miss,” he said, “but would you care to dance?”

  Esther smiled. “Of course,” she replied, taking his outstretched hand. Now that she no longer had a target to follow, she might as well take Geoffrey’s advice and try to enjoy herself for the remainder of the ball.

  “My name is Devraj, what’s yours?” he asked.

  “Esther.”

  “Esther,” Devraj repeated, “that’s a very pretty name. I don’t think I’ve seen you at one of these balls before. Are you new here?”

  “I am an attendant to a physician studying with the Wisemen at the Hall of Scholars,” said Esther.

  “That must be interesting,” Devraj said in reply.

  “Sometimes it is,” Esther conceded, “But the Wisemen can be a little stuffy at times.” Devraj laughed.

  The rhythm and speed of the music picked up and they were soon twirling about the ballroom, preempting further in-depth conversation. Devraj was a skilled dancer and Esther found herself smiling uncontrollably as they danced. Finally, the music slowed and Esther spun to a stop.

  “Thank you, Devraj,” said Esther sincerely, “That was simply wonderful.”

  “It was my pleasure,” he said, “And I must say that you are a very satisfying and skilled dance partner. Perhaps you would care to join me to get some refreshments?”

  “Oh, thank you,” replied Esther, “but I would really like to get a better look at the queen before she retires. Perhaps we can dance again later?”

  “Of course,” the young man replied, then turned and walked away.

  Esther’s desire to get a better look at the queen had nothing to do with the innocent amazement she had led young Devraj to believe, however. She just couldn’t shake that nagging suspicion she’d had, so she walked over to lean her back against a pillar near the queen. She tried to appear unapproachable to those who might ask her to dance and listened as the queen spoke with a few of her guests before retiring for the evening. It was as the queen was saying goodbye to one of her close friends that she said something which caught Esther’s attention. The Queen told her friend how tired she was and that she just wanted to relax and take a bath. That one sentence caused a few things to fall into place in Esther’s mind. She looked around and confirmed that Harun still hadn’t returned. When Esther looked back, Vana had walked away and was just stepping through the rear door of the ballroom. They needed to leave.

  She quickly found Geoffrey and Marigold and told them that they needed to go. Marigold was disappointed, but Geoffrey seemed relieved.

  “Why do we need to leave?” Marigold asked.

  “We need to speak with Malachi,” replied Esther. Most of the palace guard was on duty tonight and Malachi was no exception. She knew he was posted along the outer wall of the palace grounds somewhere, but didn’t know exactly where. Hopefully, Marigold and Geoffrey would be able to find him. Marigold shrugged and they headed out the front door of the palace and down the broad steps into the courtyard.

  “I need to go the Hall of Scholars first and confirm something,” said Esther, “Go back to the apartment and get changed. See if you can find Malachi. If you can, bring him back to the apartment. If he can’t get away, then we might have to write a message for him.”

  “What message?” said Geoffrey, a worried look on his face, “Is everything alright?”

  “We’ll see,” Esther replied, “Now go. I’ll meet you at the apartment in a little while.”

  Geoffrey and Marigold headed out of the courtyard gate and Esther turned, lifted the hem of her gown, and hurried towards the Hall of Scholars. She grabbed her telescope and climbed up into the minaret.

  Esther quickly setup the telescope. Breaking the rule she had set for herself earlier about trying to limit her spying away from private areas, she trained the telescope on the small rectangular window to the queen’s private bath. Inside, she had a good view of Vana and Harun just starting to engage in activities that she was sure Asserius would not approve of. Esther looked away in disgust.

  How had Harun gotten into the queen’s private bath unnoticed? Esther decided to wait and see how he left, which meant that she would have to keep looking through the telescope every so often until they were done. Disgusting. Esther sat down, thinking about the implications of this new information as she waited. Was the queen aware of the assassination plot, or even a willing participant? It seemed likely given the circumstances.

  After glancing through the telescope for what must have been the hundredth time, she saw Harun finally getting dressed. She watched as he pulled a small vial of dark liquid out of his jacket and handed it to Vana. Esther’s muscle’s tensed. The queen set the vial on a small table that was littered with perfumes and makeup. Harun ducked down and crawled under the table. Esther’s eyes drew together in confusion until she saw him push against a small panel under the table and crawl through a hole in the wall.

  So that’s how he’s getting in and out without being seen. Esther panned the telescope back up, but the queen had disappeared—and so had the vial! Lightning flashed on the outskirts of town. A storm had been brewing on the horizon for a while now and its energy was about to be unleashed. Esther needed to get back to the others before that happened.

  CHAPTER 31

  Storm

  One minute, everything was fine, the next, it all came crashing down on our heads.

  Trying to find Malachi in the rain is not going to be pleasant, Esther thought as she quickly stowed her telescope and climbed down the stairs. She went back into the Hall and returned the telescope to the place where she kept it, then hurried out into the courtyard. It was getting late and the guests must have been told about the coming storm because it looked like many of them were leaving.

  Most of the noblemen had expensive carriages that picked them up at the foot of the stairs in the courtyard, but there were many others guests who were walking. Esther followed a few of them out the courtyard gate and down the ramp to the second tier of the palace grounds. Some were heading towards the guest hall, but a few were continuing on into Al Farnaka itself—merchants, craftsman, and the like not high enough in station to afford the expensive carriages, but influential enough to obtain an invitation. Their simpler wagons
were likely parked just outside the palace grounds.

  Esther was about to turn down the road leading off to the left towards the guest hall when she noticed a large wagon parked in front of the building. The wagon had a cage on it and was obviously some sort of prison transport. Several men and one young woman in a tattered dress were inside the wagon. The men were shirtless and stripped to their trousers. Iron manacles bound all their wrists. Malachi was one of them. Joel and Baird were there as well. Esther didn’t recognize the fourth man or the young woman. Baird had a nasty gash on his forehead.

  Lightning streaked across the sky and thunder growled out across the valley floor as panic filled Esther’s mind. It was then that she caught Malachi’s eyes and he shook his head subtly. From the other side of the wagon, several guardsmen came around to the back. Oluchi, Geoffrey, Marigold, and Nkiru stood between them, manacled as well. Oluchi’s face was bloodied where he had obviously been struck. Esther bit her lip.

  “Where is she?!” yelled one of the guardsmen, waving pieces of parchment in his hand. They looked like Esther’s notes! The ruckus was starting to attract a lot of attention from those passing by. Esther tried to blend in among them. “Where’s the other girl?”

  No one spoke. The guard slammed a fist into Geoffrey’s stomach and he fell to the ground.

  “She’s at the Hall of Scholars!” said Malachi as he caught Esther’s eye again. Geoffrey and the others, thinking that she really was still up there, all looked at Malachi with horrified expressions. It must have been enough to convince the guardsmen because several of them went jogging up the path towards the courtyard gates above, passing close enough to where Esther stood among the other guests to make her extremely nervous. The other guards shoved Oluchi and Esther’s remaining companions roughly into the wagon.

  The group Esther was standing with turned away and continued making their way down the road towards the city. Esther followed them, her heart hammering in her chest as the shock of what was happening coursed through her. She tried not to act rushed or walk faster than the people around her, but it was very hard. How had they found out about them all? Had she been careless with her notes? Quite suddenly, a carriage came to a halt next to her and a young man ducked his head through the window. She recognized him as the last young man with whom she’d danced earlier—Devraj had been his name.

  “Such a pretty lady should not be walking home unescorted,” said the young man, “Could I give you a ride home?”

  Esther looked around and noticed that almost all of the other women walking along the road had male companions, and she had fallen slightly behind the group she’d been following.

  “That would be most kind, sir,” Esther replied, stepping over to the carriage.

  Devraj opened the door and helped her up into the carriage. She sat down and smoothed her gown, feeling some of the stress about being out in the open drain away.

  “Where are your companions, my lady?” Devraj asked, “I believe I saw you with an Ardmorran and a female companion of Easterner descent.”

  Esther was very fortunate that Devraj’s carriage hadn’t passed the road to the Guest Hall at the same time her friends had been arrested—but just in case he heard about it later, she thought she’d better put a little distance between herself and them in his mind.

  “Acquaintances only,” Esther replied, trying to remember what the King had said about being careful with her choice of words and the way she said them. “I met them earlier this evening on my way to the ball when I stopped to visit a friend staying in the Palace’s Guest Hall. They are interesting people—both of them Ardmorran.”

  “I see,” said Devraj, “Well, the more fortunate for me then, as I now get to spend a few more minutes with you.”

  Esther smiled at him. He really did seem like a nice young man and she hated deceiving him.

  “So where are you from?” he asked, “I didn’t get a chance to ask you earlier. Were you born in Al Farnaka?”

  “I’m from Deyr. My Uncle is the Satrap there. He thought it would benefit my education to spend some time in Al Farnaka.”

  “Ah yes, Deyr is quite a ways from here—and a bit remote. So what do you think of our lovely city?”

  “It’s wondrous,” said Esther honestly, “I’ve never seen such magnificent architecture—and the city breathes with vibrancy and life.”

  Esther talked with Devraj about life in Deyr compared with life in the city. That discussion led into a discussion on economics. Her friend’s desperate situation and her current predicament never left her mind, but she was grateful for the distraction that conversation with Devraj provided. It helped keep her from worrying overmuch when she couldn’t currently do anything about the situation.

  As soon as they passed out of the outer gates of the palace grounds and into the streets of the city itself, Esther wrapped her knuckle against the roof of the carriage, signaling the driver to stop.

  “What—?” a startled Devraj started to say.

  “Thank you so much for the ride and companionship, Devraj,” Esther said, pushing open the carriage door and hopping down, “I have to go, but you were very helpful, and I hope to see you again one day.”

  Esther turned and ducked down a nearby alleyway, leaving a stunned Devraj staring out the door of the carriage behind her.

  - - -

  Esther needed to get to the shop where they were supposed to meet if anything went wrong—the one that Malachi’s friend owned. She couldn’t very well have asked Devraj to drive her there, but now she was regretting the decision to leave him as the clouds opened up and rain came pouring down on her head. She walked down another alleyway towards the center of the city where the shop was located.

  Malachi had said it was the first shop on the left as you entered the central marketplace from the direction of his house, so she had swung around the outer part of the market until she felt fairly certain she was approaching from the southwest. She was thoroughly soaked and shivered with the cold. Rain ran down her face and her hair had come loose. Her makeup was running as well, stinging her eyes. She must look awful. Fortunately, no one was out and about to see her—well, no one reputable that is. She had surprised a couple of homeless beggars huddled under the eaves of a shop as she ran past. She had also run into one man whose intentions had definitely not been noble. Fortunately, he had been a bit drunk and she had used one of the techniques that Oluchi had taught her to smack the man hard in the nose. She felt bad because she was pretty sure she had broken it, but one way or the other, he had been in no shape to pursue her through the downpour after that.

  Finally, she came to the shop she was sure had to be the right one and went around the back. She knocked hard on the back door, and waited. After a minute, she heard a noise and then the door opened. Inside, stood a giant of a man.

  “Who are you?” he asked gruffly, lifting an eyebrow in surprised confusion as he looked her up and down. She must be quite a sight standing there in the rain in a formal ball gown, soaking wet.

  She wiped her damp hair out of her eyes. “My name Esther Kelley. I am a friend of Malachi Mehin. Something terrible has happened.”

  The man ducked his head out the door and looked around, then gestured Esther to come inside. “My name is Alborz,” the man said in a deep voice, leading her into a small room. Shelves full of all kinds of things lined the room. A small table and four chairs sat in the middle of the room, littered with tools. Alborz gestured at one of the chairs. “What’s happened? Where’s Malachi?”

  “Malachi has been arrested,” Esther said. Exhaustion seemed to suck the rest of her energy away and she nearly collapsed before dropping onto one of the chairs. Alborz grabbed a blanket and lay it over her shoulders. Still shivering even with the blanket, she shared everything that had transpired, beginning with their arrival at the ball. After she finished, Alborz sighed.

  “They’ll be taken to the dungeon under the garrison on the second tier of the palace grounds,” he said, “If what y
ou say is true and Harun has become suspicious of them, they will likely face execution. Given the fact that your friend, Dr. Scott, isn’t affiliated with the Ardmorran Government, Harun might not even tell the King.”

  Esther shook her head as tears came to her eyes. “We were so close. How could this happen now?”

  “I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do. I’m going to go and get Shauri and the children. If they haven’t been arrested already, I’ll bring them back here and I will get you and them out of Al Farnaka safely.”

  Esther looked up at Alborz, wiping the tears from her eyes. “We can’t just leave Geoffrey, Malachi, and the others…”

  “There ain’t nothin’ we can do for them, but I can save Malachi’s family,” the big man said, standing.

  Esther bit down on the sense of panic welling up within her, and nodded. “You’re right, you’ve got to go get Shauri and the kids right now. We can talk about the others when you get back.”

  Alborz left quickly, leaving Esther to her thoughts.

  While he was gone, she changed into an old servant’s dress she found. It didn’t fit her very well, but at least it was dry. She washed the rest of her makeup off in the washbasin and toweled her hair dry before combing it straight with her fingers. Taking away the finery, washing off the makeup, and standing there in a servants dress felt a little like penance. How had Harun discovered what they were up to? She must have been careless with her notes. She started pacing back and forth. This was all her fault. Her friends were in the dungeon with death their likely fate and it had all been her idea…her stubbornness which had led them to this point. She should just have gone home to Tewksbury. Her heart rate increased and she started to feel short of breath and a bit dizzy. The palms of her hands grew sweaty and she had to lean against the table to catch her breath. Her mind raced as she tried to think of any way out of this.