by Vicky Savage
“You’re confident no one in the palace will be alerted to the arriving armies?” Narowyn asks.
“We’re taking every possible precaution,” I say. “The area where the soldiers will hide is well-wooded and not visible from the palace. Also, the outdoor lighting on the grounds will conveniently suffer a malfunction in the early morning hours. With no moon or stars, it’ll be pitch black outside. I’m convinced we’ve got it covered.”
“That’s all well and good, but the battle will surely be engaged the moment the first of the Noir soldiers enter the grounds,” Watterson says. “Is the Royal Guard prepared to hold them off until the order to attack is given?”
“General LeGare swears they are. He’s told only his most trusted and long-serving men, but we were able to obtain rifles and some explosive devices from Old Unicoi. Those will be distributed to the men in the morning. The Noirs won’t be expecting that. It should be enough to deter them until they’re all inside the grounds.”
“Good,” Narowyn says. “It seems as if all is in order. Captain, would you please go over your plans for Jaden.”
“Certainly. According to Urick, everything in the Noir camp is progressing as we initially understood. The attack is scheduled to take place in the early afternoon when the wedding guests are seated and the ceremony is about to begin. We’ll have a team on the ground to assist your man Ralston with the placement of the princess’s body, and with his escape.
“I didn’t know you were helping us with the princess’s body,” I say.
“We worked that out at IUGA headquarters yesterday,” Asher interjects. “The agent helping Ralston got a little nervous when Ralston was called in for questioning. The agent said he’d get the body to Warrington Village, but no farther. We’ve arranged to transport it by wagon to the palace in the morning.”
“Okay. A little glitch, but it sounds like you handled it,” I say, hoping it’s not enough to throw off the prediction model.
Watterson continues the briefing. “Urick will make certain he leads the assassination party to you in the tower room. Keep your polycom turned on to vibrate mode. He’ll send you a warning once they’ve entered the palace. It’s the only notice you’ll get. You can count on him to do whatever it takes to keep you unharmed until you’re able to make your shift. You understand the shift must be instantaneous with your fall? You’ve not a fraction of a second to waste.”
“I understand.”
“Once the princess’s body is discovered, Ralston will meet us by the parked wagon inside the palace stables. We’ll secure him with a harness to one or two of the men, and transport him back here using a team shift.”
“Got it,” I say. “Anything else?”
Narowyn moves to the edge of her chair and leans in toward me. “Jaden, I’ll be here waiting for you when you make your shift. The complaint against IUGA has been prepared and will be filed with the IGC Court the moment you arrive. We’re asking for emergency relief to insure your safety.”
I nod solemnly. “I appreciate it. And thank you all for everything you’re doing for me and for the people of Domerica.”
I get to my feet and Watterson shakes my hand again. “Don’t worry about a thing on this end.”
Asher hugs me. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Jade. Take care of yourself.”
“You too, Ash.”
Narowyn kisses each of my cheeks and then folds me into an embrace. “Be safe, little sister.”
I assure her that I will.
“Well then, until tomorrow.” I click my bracelet, and Zzzt.
Landing just outside my office, I practically plow into Patrick, who seems to be guarding my door.
My heart climbs halfway up my throat. I didn’t expect a witness to my reappearing act. “Patrick! What the hell?”
“I’m so sorry, Your Majesty,” he says completely flustered. “I did not see you. Where did you come from?”
“Never mind. Why are you here?”
“I was told you had a meeting with Prince Gilbert and Prince Jean Louis. I wished to be nearby in case you needed me.”
“Oh yeah, right. Thanks. I had a little wedding thing to take care of. Um, wait here.”
When I open the office door, Ralston and Prince Gilbert are shaking hands. Everyone is smiling, so I guess things went okay. The three men bow when they see me.
“Hi,” I say stupidly, still rattled by my near collision with Patrick. “I’m sorry I missed the meeting. I trust Professor Ralston answered all of your questions.”
“Yes,” Gilbert says. “This is a strong proposal. We will present it to our father immediately upon our return to Dome Noir. I’m certain he will be persuaded.”
Yeah, right. “Wonderful.” I manage a near smile. “Professor, may I speak with you a moment?” I ask, prompting the frog princes to take their leave.
“We shall see you at dinner tonight,” Gilbert says. He lifts my hand and kisses it.
I resist the urge to ball it into a fist and shove it down his throat. “Yes. Lovely.”
As usual, Jean Louis speaks not a word and avoids eye contact altogether. He shuffles out behind Gilbert like an obedient puppy.
Once the door is closed, I collapse in a chair. “I nearly landed on top of Patrick just now.”
“Oh my. Did he witness your reappearance?” Ralston asks.
“He doesn’t really know what he saw. I hope he writes it off as a trick of the light or a hallucination or temporary insanity or something.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it, old girl. What did the Transcenders have to say?”
“Just that everything’s set on their end. They said they’re bringing the princess’s body in from town for us.”
“Yes. I encountered a bit of a problem with that, but this should work out well. They’ll have all the necessary credentials to gain entrance to the palace grounds, and to anyone conducting a routine inspection, the wagon will appear to be laden with flowers for the ceremony.”
“This change in a variable doesn’t screw up our whole scenario, does it? I mean from a prediction standpoint?”
“I can’t be certain, but this is such a minor detail. It should have no impact at all.”
“That’s good. But these little glitches worry me. They seem to be adding up. Anyway, I assume you know that once the body is discovered, you’re supposed to meet the Transcenders in the stables to be taken to Arumel?”
“Yes, we discussed it. I believe all will go swimmingly, my dear.” He reaches over and squeezes my hand.
“I hope for both our sakes you’re right.”
* * *
The door to my room stands open, and I’m expecting to find Ryder inside. Instead, the fashion brigade, led by Maria, waits impatiently for me. The top of my dressing table is crammed with pots of makeup, containers of perfume, and a truckload of hair pins. Yikes.
My gorgeous indigo dress lies spread across the bed, and a new diamond and platinum crown perches atop a pedestal near my dressing table. I love having so many beautiful things, but right now I’d kill for a pair of yoga pants and tank top.
After the ladies work their magic on my face, hair, and body, Maria leads me to the full length mirror. I have to say, I’m pleased with what I see. The slinky gown and the smoky eye shadow make me appear kind of bad girl sexy, which is more to my liking than the Good Witch look from earlier today.
When Ryder arrives to collect me for dinner, his eyes sweep over me appreciatively. “I’ve never seen you more beautiful.” He uses his fingertips to slide a wisp of hair away from my shoulder, and he touches his lips to the nape of my neck sending chills down my spine. The ladies titter in the background.
“Are you ready?” he asks.
“Do not forget your gloves,” Maria says, laying a pair of above-the-elbow, black satin gloves across my palm.
“Nice touch,” I say and slip them on.
Ryder and I walk arm in arm to our last supper together.
FOURTEEN
It’s nearl
y midnight when we finally say goodnight to the last of our guests. I embrace Adelais lovingly, knowing it’s the last time I will ever see her. “Have a safe journey,” I whisper.
Drew will escort her as far as Warrington Village where all those escaping to the safety of Old Unicoi will gather and caravan to their destination under heavy guard and the cover of night.
Ryder and I climb the steps to my room in silence. Once inside, he slips out of his dinner jacket and drapes it across the back of a chair.
I remove my crown, which mercifully is held in place by combs instead of hairpins. My freed hair cascades down my back. I shake it out and then reach for the knot of my sash.
“I’d like to do that,” he says softly.
“Yes,” I whisper.
With slow sensuous fingers, he unties my sash, allowing it to fall to the floor. He presses a tender kiss on my right shoulder, while sliding down my strap. He repeats the gesture on my left shoulder. Lacing his fingers into my hair, he tilts my head back exposing my neck. His warm lips whisper across my throat, light as butterfly wings. Hot blood surges through my veins, and my breath comes in short bursts. I clutch the front of his shirt for support. I want him desperately, but I also want to savor every second of this night.
He raises his heavy-lidded eyes for a moment, and then presses his eager mouth to mine. The sweetness of his lips and tongue, the fierceness of his embrace ignite passion and pleasure in me. My hands find their way beneath his shirt and up his chest. His belly quivers as I run my fingertips downward. For me, there is only the solidness of Ryder—heartbeat, flesh, muscle, and heat. I block out all else and lose myself completely to him … my once and future love.
* * *
I’m not certain of the time when I awaken in Ryder’s sheltering arms. The room is abnormally dark, so I assume the lights on the palace grounds have already been tripped as planned. The glowing crystalline logs in my fireplace provide the only illumination. I carefully slide from the bed so as not to waken my sleeping husband. Pulling a shawl from my chair, I wrap it snugly around my shoulders and wander out onto the balcony. Inky blackness envelopes me, and though I see nothing, I envision the fully armed Enclave soldiers filing quietly through the gap in the fence, taking their position on the grounds. My ears strain for any tell-tell sound, but the night is eerily still.
“Do you see anything?” Ryder moves softly behind me and rests his hands on my shoulders.
“No. Do you think they’re already here?”
“Most likely. It will be dawn soon.”
His words turn my blood to ice.
Soft lips brush across my ear. “Come back to bed, love,” he whispers. “We’ve not much time left.”
Noisy commerce wakes us shortly after sun-up. Final preparations for the royal wedding day are underway. A non-stop parade of delivery wagons clatters through the palace gates—one of them bearing the princess’s body, if all has gone according to plan. A loud hammering echoes across the courtyard as last minute tasks are being completed.
The Grand Arboretum, already decorated with thousands of twinkling lights and cartloads of flowers, teems with workers installing the white satin runner leading up to the gazebo. Graceful white canopies flutter serenely overhead as the men work, blissfully ignorant of the battle to come.
Ryder dresses early and slips out to make certain all is ready for the arrest of the two princes and their covert transportation to Wall’s Edge Prison.
Maria and two maids arrive at eight to help me prepare for the private royal breakfast.
“I’m not wearing my new dress,” I tell them. “Please take it back to the gown room.”
Maria raises her chin. “Just what do you intend to wear, Your Majesty?”
“What I have on,” I say gesturing to my riding clothes.
“But you cannot …”
My stern look silences her, and I turn to the two maids. “Take the dress and all the rest downstairs and wait for further instructions.”
They bustle out the door leaving us alone. Maria wheels around ready for an argument.
“Please sit down,” I say. “I have something to tell you.”
She lowers herself warily into a chair. “The wedding is still on, is it not?”
“Well, yes and no. For all intents and purposes, it will appear as if the wedding is taking place exactly as planned. But a rather large army of black knights is inside the dome, and likely on its way here, with plans to attack the palace as the ceremony is about to begin.”
Her eyes expand in fear. “Why are you still here? You must get to safety at once.”
“Not just yet. I plan to have the two princes from Dome Noir arrested in about an hour for planning the attack. I wouldn’t miss that for the world.”
“No.” She raises a shaky hand to her open mouth.
“Yes.” I pull the hand away from her mouth. “So, here’s what I want you to do. Find your fiancé. Is he here on the grounds today?”
“He is helping to set up the food tables.”
“Good. Find him and the two of you leave now, before the guests arrive. Get as far away from the palace as possible. Go someplace south of here, Warrington Village, maybe. The Noir army will be coming from the north, and you don’t want to run into them.”
She gapes at me but doesn’t move a muscle.
“Did you hear me? You’ve got to get going. Now!”
“But what about you? What about everyone else?”
“Don’t worry. The palace is heavily guarded, and we’ve called on the Enclave and Unicoi armies for help. I’ll be fine, but some incidental casualties are inevitable. I don’t want you to get hurt, Maria. Understand?”
She nods slowly as if trying to process the information.
“Come on, then. You have no time to waste.”
Springing from her chair, she surprises me with a strong embrace. “Oh thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you for saving us. Are you certain you will be safe?”
“Yes, yes. Just one more thing,” I say.
“Certainly, anything.”
“What’s the name of that girl who tucks in the Skorplings at night—the one who plays ball with Fred sometimes?”
“Katie?”
“That’s it, Katie. Is she here today?”
“Yes. The entire staff is here for the wedding.”
“All right. Now go on, and not a word to anyone else.”
She takes my hand. “I pray you come to no harm, Your Majesty.” Then she darts out the door.
“Was that blur I just saw Maria?” Ralston asks, stepping inside my room.
“Yes. I told her to get the hell out of here for her own safety. I hope she doesn’t blab to anyone else, though. We don’t need Chicken Little running around shouting the sky is falling.”
“She’s a bright girl. I’m certain she’ll be discreet.” He closes my door. “Do you have everything ready for me?”
“Yes. Wait here a second.”
I haul a bag out of my closet that I had packed earlier with a full set of clothing identical to what I’m wearing.
“Here it is.” I set the bag at his feet.
“Very good. Now the rest.” He holds out a hand.
I sigh heavily, and tug off my wedding ring, kissing it softly before placing it in his open palm.
“And the necklace.”
“Can’t I just keep this one thing? Please.”
“You know you cannot.” He wiggles his fingers impatiently.
I unhook Ryder’s wolf head necklace and drop it into his palm, feeling as if I just turned over half of my heart.
He stuffs the jewelry into his pocket. “Now I have something for you,” he says withdrawing a pair of glasses from inside his jacket.
“What’re those?”
“My extra set of glasses. As you may recall, they are capable of identifying other automatons. Put them on.”
I do as he tells me.
“Now look at my eyes.”
When I look up, a tiny red
light flashes in the outer corner of the left lens. A small readout appears: nonhuman – automaton, IUGA ID# D7829. “Oh yeah, cool.” I say.
“More than cool, they may save your life. Once your guard is in place inside the tower room, put these on to determine if any of them is a spy. They are all supposed to be long-serving members of the Guard, but someone may slip through. It occurred to me last night that is a variable we did not make provision for.”