The Rose Mark: Black Rose Sorceress, Book 1

by Connie Suttle

  I think Armon and Levi did, perhaps, because they'd been close friends with Nyra and Gale. How I wished that Grae had been taught the new method. I felt sure she'd still be alive if that had been.

  My eyes wandered to the trainee responsible for the new method, and mourned the fact that she'd been born too late to save my love.

  Fifth cohort began filing in. Once they were seated and Miri joined the other instructors, the ceremony would begin.

  Black roses would be confirmed by the King, rankings would be announced, and then the lists would be given to the new escorts, who'd consider the names written on folded papers.

  The following day, we'd gather here again, when the first-ranked black rose of a newly-formed First Cohort would make her selection, and those following her would make theirs, while names were struck off lists as warriors were chosen.

  Then, following the first round, those black roses in the new Second cohort would make their choices—after some shuffling, of course. It would continue until all roses had chosen a warrior.

  Even with the fourteen previous washouts that had been added to the black roses, we still had four more warriors than we had black roses.

  Any warrior not taken would be forced to wait until the following training period. Those men could still serve in some capacity; they merely wouldn't have a rose beside them.

  More than anything, I wanted to step to my office and pour myself a drink from the bottle of whiskey Levi and Armon gave me.

  There were things to do, though, and Father was here, expecting me to be nearby. I wouldn't disappoint him, no matter how much I wanted to be somewhere else.

  "Now that everyone is here," Hunter stepped forward to announce, "It is the King's pleasure to announce that all in this trainee class have passed their final tests. Congratulations, you have all been elevated to the rank of an official black rose."

  The warriors cheered and clapped—this was good news to them, as it meant more of them would be chosen by an escort.

  "Now," Hunter went on, "after receiving input from your instructors and from the King and his advisors, I hold the final rankings in my hand." He held up a sheaf of papers.

  This was it—I either spoke now or refused an opportunity to do what I saw as the right thing. "My King," I strode toward Father and bowed in deference, as was prescribed by the situation.

  Sherra

  Hunter, the King's advisor, held our rankings aloft—pieces of paper with a name and corresponding number on each. I assumed they'd begin with either first or last, depending on how they wanted to manage the suspense.

  I just wanted it over with, so I could begin to plan my remaining years—if I were so lucky to last that long.

  That's when Kerok walked toward the King and addressed him with a bow. The King's reply gave me the shivers.

  "What is it, my son?" the King responded to Kerok's words. A gasp rippled through the black roses—there was no corresponding sound from the warriors—they'd known.

  Still, my mind worked furiously, attempting to equate Kerok with the King. He only had two sons—Drenn and Thorn. There was no son named Kerok.

  My breath was uneven as I struggled to follow the rest.

  "Father, I wish to invoke Prince's privilege," Kerok said.

  What was that? I'd never heard of it. What was Kerok saying? This had to be a mistake.

  "Ah." The King appeared confused for a moment. "Tell me your choice, then," the King finally said. Something in his words held hope and dread—hope that the choice would be a good one; dread that it would be the opposite.

  "Father, I, Prince Thorn Wulfson Kerok Rex, choose Sherra as my black rose escort. I ask that you and all others present bear witness to my choice."

  If Wend hadn't gripped my arm with the strength of a coyote's jaws at that moment, I may have blacked out from shock.

  "I approve your choice, my son," the King beamed at Kerok. "You know she must consent before I offer congratulations."

  "I do," Kerok dipped his head.

  "Sherra, get up." Levi was suddenly before me, urging me to rise from my place on the bench.

  The walk toward Kerok was a numb one, and I couldn't recall getting from the bench to his side afterward.

  I had no feeling in my legs and little breath in my lungs as he and I stood before the King.

  If the King asks you a question, young woman, your answer should be yes, echoed in my mind.

  "Black rose Sherra, do you accept Prince Thorn's offer?" the King asked.

  I froze. Sherra, answer him, Armon's voice commanded.

  "Y-yes," I stuttered, as if my teeth were chattering from cold. Barth's words had held a warning. He'd said my life and the lives of others depended upon my answer. What did he know?

  "You have the King's blessing," the King laughed as he held his hands aloft.

  I felt as if I'd been punched in the gut.

  "Now, Thorn, there is the matter of her rank," the King continued. I blinked at him in confusion. Rank no longer mattered—I felt as if I'd been forced to make this choice, whether it was one I wanted or not.

  "I choose the rank of Captain for my black rose," Kerok said. "She came in first in the trainee rankings, and the elevation is deserved."

  "Then it will be so written," the King declared. He was happy.

  I was stunned.

  Bow to the King, Armon instructed. Like a puppet, I did so. Kerok took my left hand, lifted it and kissed the black rose on my wrist.

  The mess hall erupted into cheers as the room darkened about me.

  K erok

  "A trying day, nothing more," the physician said after leaving my bedroom. Sherra sat up on my bed while Levi attempted to coax her to drink a glass of juice.

  I'd waited outside for the physician's diagnosis; I didn't want to do more harm than I'd already done, blindsiding her as I had.

  I had to tell her the truth, and I wanted privacy to do it.

  "You'll inform Hunter?" I asked.

  "Of course, my Prince. I am grateful to be able to call you by your proper title. Commander doesn't do your status justice."

  "Hmmph," I snorted.

  "You were always a humble sort," he laughed. "Good luck with that one in there—I think she's ready to take someone apart."

  "Thank you for your help," I said. He nodded before walking out of my suite. Not far away, in the mess hall, the rankings and list distribution was winding down—Armon was keeping me informed through mindspeak. I wasn't sorry I was missing it—I had copies of everything on my desk and didn't need or want to see it in person.

  Sherra's collapse had come at a fortuitous time; Father imagined she was overcome by her good fortune and dismissed us, Levi included, so we could tend to her.

  I doubted Sherra considered anything about this shock as good fortune; I'd seen her face as she'd walked toward me, stiff-legged as a puppet.

  I probably should apologize, before having an extra bed hauled into my quarters. She could sleep in my bed while I slept on a cot in the receiving area. I doubted I'd be getting much sleep until we headed to Secondary Camp, anyway.

  K ing's Palace

  Drenn, Crown Prince of Az-ca

  "Stop whining. I had to wait until Barth was gone for an extended period before allowing you here; he knows everything and snoops too much."

  Merrin wasn't happy with my answer, but I was tired of his complaints. He should be happy to be alive, but had he thanked me once for ordering Father's assassins to allow him to keep his power?

  Not even once. He should be grateful that those two were under my command instead of Father's.

  "Those holes you call caves have nothing in them except blankets and rattlesnakes," Merrin failed to follow my advice. "Besides, you know as well as I do that there was no blood on those sheets—we looked. Somebody put it there."

  "I just told you, Barth knows everything. He was waiting for us to make a mistake. He wasn't wrong in what he accused us of, either—Bray confirmed his findings." I named Barth'
s secondary Diviner. "Besides, I've learned a few things since your supposed death, you know."

  "You could have sent better food and more water," Merrin grumbled. "This is the first time I've had a bath and clean clothes since Thorn dumped me in the poisoned lands."

  "You're alive. Count your blessings," I snapped at him. "All you have to do is hold on until I become King, and then you can magically appear again, with a tale of survival in the poisoned lands to your credit. We can plot Thorn's death in the meantime, and you'll walk right into the Commander's position."

  "What about Barth and Hunter? When you become King?" Merrin wasn't letting go of any loose threads; he toyed with them like a pet cat attempting to unravel the entire cloth.

  "I will be King," I said. "I can dismiss anyone and bring in my own advisors. We can discredit them if you like, before I send them away."

  "They deserve worse than that for framing us," Merrin growled.

  "We weren't framed, remember? We did those things. Father didn't punish me—I knew he wouldn't, and I was able to keep you alive. Have another beer—it will cheer you up."

  Merrin still wasn't finished with his complaints, but at least he poured another glass of beer for both of us.

  "I have something for you," I said. "Maybe it will help you in some way."

  "What is it? Say it's a decent bed, at least."

  "No. Better," I said, pulling the book from a desk drawer and handing it to him. "I found this in the catacombs."

  "What the hell were you doing down there with those dusty old bones?" Merrin demanded.

  "Merely reflecting upon the ancient custom of burial as opposed to turning bodies to ash," I shrugged. "And that includes a penchant for asking that you be buried with items you've grown fond of—such as books. I've already handed one forbidden book to my brother to place doubts in his mind; you get the other one. Perhaps, since you hold power, it will be of some use to you."

  He took the book, then, and studied the title. Thorn's Book of Advanced Divination Techniques was written across the front.

  "Thorn? As in the ancient King named Thorn?"

  "The same one my dear brother was named after," I chuckled, "and destined to meet the same fate, although he won't be buried with his favorite things—I'll see to it myself. In your free time—which I assume you have plenty of, read that book and tell me whether you find anything useful in it."

  Sherra

  "I'm not an invalid." I frowned at Levi, who'd asked a drudge to bring a tray of food to me. Kerok—Thorn—was elsewhere; he hadn't bothered to speak with me after the incident in the mess hall.

  "How did the rankings go?" I asked with a sigh. At least I was no longer on Thorn's bed—Levi allowed me to move to a corner chair with a small table beside it. The food tray sat on the table, while Levi waited for me to eat, arms crossed over his chest and glaring like a broody hen.

  "Fourth came away with most of the highest rankings," the glare disappeared and a grin transformed his face. "Caral would have been second behind you, if she hadn't gotten demerits."

  "How are they doing?" I asked.

  "Fine. Armon has been checking on them, but they're all gathered tightly together, whispering about their list of warriors."

  "Why?" I asked. I'd changed the subject, but Levi hadn't realized it.

  "Well, that's what they do," he began.

  "No, Levi." I rubbed my forehead. "Why weren't we told about Kerok—Thorn?"

  "He didn't want special treatment. He hates it in the field, too. The Prince Commander fights on the front lines with the best of us. That's how Grae died."

  "Grae?"

  "His previous escort."

  CHAPTER 13

  K erok

  I stayed away until late, hoping she'd be asleep when I got in. Yes, I was being cowardly about this, and I felt bad about it. Not bad enough to wake her, however, when I determined she was asleep.

  There'd be time the following day, or perhaps when we arrived at Secondary Camp, for her to hear my truth. If she wanted to dress me down for my actions, then I'd allow her to speak freely.

  Father, Hunter and Barth arrived safely at the palace; I received mindspeak from Hunter, letting me know. They looked tired when they left, but it could have been the extra glasses of wine I'd shared with them in my office.

  Armon? I sent.

  Commander?

  Will you meet me in my sitting room, please?

  I'll be there shortly.

  He arrived seconds later, wearing a sleeveless undershirt, fatigue pants and boots. He'd dressed quickly, letting me know I'd pulled him away from his bed.

  "I'm sorry," I waved a hand. "I didn't mean to wake you."

  "I'm here. What is it, Commander?"

  "Do you have any suggestions on how to tell Sherra about Grae? Sit, please," I offered a nearby chair.

  "Ah. Well, Levi may have let Grae's name slip earlier—he told me because he was worried about it the moment he said it." Armon settled heavily onto the chair and gave me a nod when I held up my half-empty wine bottle.

  "So she knows about Grae." I handed the bottle to Armon, who rose to retrieve a glass from the collection I kept in my sitting room.

  "Only her name and that she was your previous escort." Armon reseated himself and sipped wine.

  "Do you think she'll be upset?"

  "I doubt it. She's very knowledgeable about these things. It would only make sense that she'd have predecessors. Sherra is quite practical, Commander. I doubt she'll have illusions about any relationship you may have with her."

  "I hate that." I set my glass down on the side table with a thump. "I hate that she may be cheated of—well, many things."

  "Then tell her that. Honesty works best, in my experience."

  "I know. It's just—difficult to admit that I may be cheating her, especially since I really didn't give her much choice in the matter."

  "Wait until you talk with her about it," Armon suggested. "Stop worrying until you know there's something to worry about."

  "You know, I'm grateful that you didn't suggest that I pretend anything with her. That would have been Merrin's advice."

  "Hmmph." Armon sipped more wine.

  "You saw through him, didn't you?" I asked. "It's all right—it took a while, but I finally did, too."

  "Only interested in sex, that one," Armon didn't hide the contempt in his voice. "Talked badly about his escorts when he was away from them, too. They were just things to him—things that he would use up until they died."

  "You know there are others like him," I said.

  "I know. It makes me angry."

  "With the way the laws are written concerning black roses, I don't see a viable way to change anything," I said. "Drenn, if he had any sense and wasn't as bad as Merrin about some things, could make a great deal of difference. He could present changes to Father, and perhaps push them through."

  "Don't you have some sway in the matter?"

  "Drenn will circumvent anything I suggest. He doesn't like me because I was born with power and he wasn't. Hunter says Drenn is filled with jealousy. He's had his way of digging at me since Barth declared me powerful."

  "That can ruin a family dinner." Armon refilled his glass while I barked a laugh.

  Sherra

  Kerok's bed didn't sag in the middle like my cot in the barracks did. His bed hadn't been slept on by too many trainees to count, either.

  I wallowed in the luxury of it when I woke, realizing that I'd probably slept later than I should have.

  I heard stirring in the other room and quietly rolled off the bed. I didn't know who it might be, so I was determined to look. Putting up a shield, I walked toward the door, only to see it opened.

  I jumped when Kerok's face appeared in the opening. I may have shrieked in fright, too, although my hand clapped immediately over my mouth.

  "I just wanted to make sure you were up," he said. "There is a shower through that small door in the corner," he pointed behind me. "Clean up and I'l
l take you to breakfast with Armon and Levi."

  "Th-thank you," I stuttered. No, I hadn't recovered from my fright, as weak as that made me feel. I doubted I'd get used to being in such close quarters for a very long time. He and I needed to discuss things, too, mostly concerning his being the Prince Commander and his high-handed method of circumventing any choices I'd had after my testing.

  I could still hear Barth's voice in my head, however, telling me my answer to the King's question should be yes.

  He had to know about the book, yet he hadn't pointed it out.

  Did Kerok know about the book, too?

  "Go," Kerok commanded. "We'll be late if you don't clean up now."

  I turned and almost ran for the shower.

  K erok

  I recalled how Grae used to look right after waking—tousled, with sleep still in her eyes.

  I'd startled Sherra; she'd gone into a defensive posture the moment I opened the door. I hoped that wasn't our morning routine from now on—I hated that she was afraid.

  Armon, we'll meet you at the mess hall in a few minutes, I informed him.

  Sherra

  I washed and dressed in record time, and with my hair still damp, I joined Kerok in his sitting room. I couldn't bring myself to think of him as Prince Thorn; that way lay trouble.

  "Ready?" he asked when I stopped next to him.

  "Yes." I didn't—couldn't—meet his gaze.

  He took my arm and stepped us away.

  "How do you feel?" Levi asked first thing. Kerok had led me to a table, where Armon and Levi sat together. Instead of getting our own trays of food, they were brought to us by drudges.

  "Strange," I admitted while utensils and drinks were set in front of us.

  Kerok lifted an eyebrow but didn't comment. I hardly knew how to act while food was set in front of us. I'd always had to do those things myself.

  "Strange?" Armon asked.