“Don’t worry about him,” I said when we came back together. “What about the other girls?”
“You know about them?” she asked in surprise.
“Of course. I came for you all or as many as I could find.”
“But they are not nobility,” she said.
“I don’t care about such nonsense,” I said. “I will take you all or die trying.”
I spun her out one last time as the song came to its climax. It ended with her hand to my lips and our heads close together.
“How can I reach you?” I asked.
“We can’t leave the Palace grounds,” she whispered. “He forbids it.”
“Then you will hear from me soon, until then, Lady Merey.”
“Don’t use that name. It’s dangerous. It’s Tessa now,” she hissed.
All the dancers rose and bowed to their respective partners, then to one another. I turned back to the lovely young lady and bowed again.
“Until then.”
I left her on the dance floor and didn’t give her another glance the rest of the night. I took the golden clasp from the terrified guard and he sighed heavily, grateful to be relieved of it.
“You seemed to enjoy yourself,” the Mata said.
“Jealousy doesn’t become you, dear,” I said. “Besides, I’ll squirm anywhere you like, be there music or no.” I held out my hand as the musicians began another tune. This one was livelier and would require much more spinning and jumping.
“To this song?” Galateia asked incredulously. “In this dress? Are you trying to show me off in my entirety?”
I grinned a wicked smile. I was feeling triumphant. I had finally found that which I sought. I was feeling the effects of my success, and tonight Galateia would reap the rewards of my humor.
“Let them watch,” I said. “Let them stew in their envy. We all know who you are going home with tonight.” She unclasped her end of the chain and mine and handed the entirety to the guard. I pulled her to her feet and spun her across the room. Her dress, if you could call it such, did little to protect what modesty the Mata pretended to have.
We danced if you could call it such. Everyone stared. They all gaped and gawked, and we didn’t care. I paraded the Mata around as my own private plaything. She drove me to my knees on the dance floor. We danced as though there were no others in the room. Why should there be? This was our room. Any more would be voyeuristic.
I retrieved the chain from the guard and we refastened it. Both the Mata and I were out of breath and covered in sweat. On her, it was a sheen of glistening beads. It made her even more attractive. I, on the other hand, was a soggy mess. It wasn’t fair.
“I wish I had known you could dance,” Galateia said.
“It was something my uncle forced upon me,” I said, “I hated it. He said it was a skill that would serve me well, especially with the ladies.” I looked at Galateia, her wet skin shimmering in the lantern light, and grinned broadly. “I believe I need to write and thank him.”
“That was well done,” said Prince Kaden, as he softly applauded our exhibition. I nearly jumped out of my skin as I didn’t even see him approach. Master Brenn would have my hide for forgetting my surroundings so thoroughly. The Prince was taller up close than I had credited him. His curly black hair spilled down over his shoulders and his clean-shaven face seemed youthful, despite his thirty-odd years. “Mata, my dear, I can’t recall ever seeing you so lively. If I didn’t know better, I would think you are almost enjoying yourself.”
The Mata dipped low. “You always host the most wondrous festivities, Your Highness,” she said, “I am honored you noticed.”
“How could one not notice, my lady,” he said. You and your Consort looked positively enraptured. My congratulations.”
Galateia bowed again as the Prince acknowledged me.
“And you, my Lord,” the Prince said, “You are new to my court. I would have your name, sir.”
“Evanar Hostric, Your Highness,” I said with a bow of my own. “I am honored to be in such gracious company.”
“If I didn’t know better,” he said with a glance to the Mata, “I would think I should take issue with you, Lord Hostric.”
I bowed again. “I hope I have not caused offense, Your Highness.” Hessa’s tits. If I offended this man already, then I was dead. I racked my brain to think of some misstep, some offhand comment, that could have possibly reached his ears. The only thing I could think of was if Tessa had told him what I said. But why would she? I was here to help her. I was here to take her to her family where she belongs. Surely she wouldn’t have gone straight to him with our conversation. If she had, there was nothing for it now. I schooled my face and rose.
“It is one thing that you come in here with one gorgeous woman on your arm,” he said with a sly smile, “but then you try to ensnare my Tessa as well? Do try to leave some ladies for the rest of us, would you?”
I nearly sighed in audible relief at his jest. So, it seemed I was not to be killed tonight after all. I grinned a cheeky grin.
“Would that I could promise, Your Highness,” I said. “I have found since my arrival in Trular, that this kingdom has more than its fair share of lovely ladies. I would be remiss if I didn’t attempt to meet them all.” I gave a slight nod toward the Mata. “Besides, it wasn’t all my idea and I think I learned something valuable tonight in the process.”
The Prince mimicked my smile, “Oh, what is that?”
I cupped my hand by my face and faux whispered, “I think she likes to watch. I will use that against her later.”
Galateia blushed furiously and the Prince bellowed a deep belly laugh.
The Jardir choked on his wine.
“Please continue,” The Prince said through his chuckles. “I regret that I must intrude, however. Jardir, I am afraid I must drag you away. There have been some recent developments in the west that we should discuss.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” The Jardir kissed his wife on the cheek, gave me an odd look, and followed the Prince through the curtains at the back of the hall.
The Nightmare
I woke with a start. Something alerted me to danger, and I could not identify the source. It wasn’t a noise. There were no errant sounds from within or without the open shutters. After the Prince’s ball, Galateia and I had hurried to her manor, taken our fill of each other’s affections, and drifted to sleep. I was still coming to terms with new feelings for a woman I technically considered my enemy, or at least a useful tool. I didn’t like the idea of using her, but I understood the necessity. That necessity didn’t mean I could shut off my empathy entirely. I remained motionless as I scanned the room through lidded eyes.
It was dark but for the faint moonlight that streamed through the window. I called to the shadows, and they obeyed, spreading across the floor of the Mata’s private chambers. I formed the wispy blanket and used it to sense for movement. I felt the intruders as they disrupted the web of souls at my command. There were two that moved across the room and attempted to surround the bed. Then a third crept silently toward me as I lay in apparent slumber. I called additional shadows to my face in anticipation of what must come next.
I drew deep.
The last of the trio lunged, and I lashed out with a fist and batted them into the wall next to the bed. I slid from beneath the Mata, who had been resting on my chest, and she stirred with the disruption. The attacker rose and shook off the blow.
Fire erupted in my lower back as a blade punched into my side. I stiffened and swung clumsily in reaction. The second assailant left the blade where it was and danced out of reach. I ducked and narrowly avoided two thrown knives, which sank deep into the wall behind me. I launched myself with the speed enhanced by my Aspect and took the second attacker at the knees, driving them hard into the polished oak floors of the Mata’s private room. The air whooshed from their lungs, but they didn’t cry out. I rolled over them and kneed them in the head, rendering them unconscious.
&
nbsp; The Mata screamed as I stood to engage the third. These were no mere assassins. These were more than that. They moved in effortless coordination. Something wrapped about my throat. It spun twice around my neck and bit into the soft flesh. It denied me breath as my attacker pulled taught a thin, unnaturally strong chain and I felt the hooks dig deeper. They attempted to drag me down.
I lunged backward, narrowly avoiding a thin sword blade whisking past my nose. The tension on the chain slackened as I pulled the wielder off balance. A second sword sliced deep into the muscle across my chest.
I shot forward, blocking a follow-up, and punched my attacker in the face, sending them sprawling across the floor. They tumbled into the wall and lay unmoving.
The chain tightened around my neck again, and they yanked me from my feet. A weight settled across my hips, and blow after blow struck my face and head.
“Enough!” I cried and gathered my shadows, those spirits I had carried about me since I was a child. I formed them into bindings and thrust them at the intruder. The spirits engulfed them, wrapping around their body, and they bucked wildly to escape the souls’ grasp. I struck them in the side of the head with a fist and they slumped over me, unconscious.
I shoved them roughly from me and scanned the room for more attackers, but there were none.
Someone started beating on the barred door to the Mata’s quarters. “Open the door!” one yelled. “Mata, open the door!” The pounding continued and one ordered for someone to find an axe.
I looked around the room at three still forms and the Mata, mouth agape in terror.
“Get the door. Send them away,” I told her.
She didn’t move, her eyes fixated on the bedroom turned battlefield.
“Galateia,” I said more forcefully, “get the door and send them away until we can decide what to do here.”
“Get rid of them?” she asked incredulously. “I will not. I will flog them to death for allowing attackers into my home.”
I crossed the room in a bound and grabbed her shoulders. I had released my draw and dispersed the shadows. I looked deep into her eyes and saw only fear. The yelling and pounding persisted.
“You will do no such thing,” I said in a calm, firm voice. “You will open that door and dismiss them. Tell them you had a nightmare. Tell them we were in the throes of passion. Tell them whatever you need to tell them, but send them away. Do not tell them you were attacked. Not yet. We have much to learn here, and we will learn none of it with guards asking questions and tromping about the place.”
“But—”
“Trust me, Galateia. This is best.”
I nudged her toward the door, and the Mata straightened herself visibly as she approached the clamor.
“What is it?” she yelled at the closed door.
“Mata. Are you well?” called a guard. “We heard you scream.”
Galateia looked to me over her shoulder, and I gave an approving nod.
“I am fine,” she said. I dragged the last attacker to the side of the room just as the Mata threw the bolt and opened the door a fraction to allow her guard to see her.
“Are you well, Mata?” the guard asked again and started to barge in. She didn’t budge, and he stopped short. He was not about to knock her down to gain entrance.
“I am well,” she said. “It was a nightmare. I am calm now. Carry on about your duties.”
The guard tried to look over or around her, but she shut the door in his face and threw the bolt once again. It was unlikely he’d seen anything in the darkened room.
I gritted my teeth and reached back to pull the knife from my side. I could feel that most of the bleeding had stopped thanks to the rapid healing afforded me through my power, but the process couldn’t continue with the blade still stuck in my back. It hurt like the hells. I felt the steel slide from my organs and some blood spilled. It was much less than it could have been. I would be ravenous come the morning, but I wouldn’t die in my lover’s bedchamber. I wouldn’t even have a scar. I drew again and felt the wounds close on my back and chest.
I was covered in blood. Glalateia didn’t know about my abilities, and I aimed for it to stay that way. I needed to get this blood off me before she wondered where it came from. I rushed to the washroom, cleaned myself as best I could, and dropped the evidence down the privy for the sewers to carry away. I returned from the washroom wearing a bathing robe. I brought one to Galateia and handed it to her as she lit a lantern.
Our intruders wore identical mottled gray clothing with bands wrapped about their forearms and legs to prevent snagging, as well as cowls and hoods that wrapped around their heads. In their disheveled state, I saw several weapons protruding from their clothing that they had not had the chance to bring to bear.
“What do you hope to learn by sending the guards away?” she asked. “They are clearly assassins.”
“Who they are, for one. These are not assassins. They are better. Much better than the one I killed.”
I untied the strip of cloth that made up the hood and cowl of one of the unconscious forms. My back twinged from the movement, the healing not yet complete, but I ignored it as best I could and continued. When I finished, a plait of thick blonde hair spilled from beneath. The Mata gasped.
It was Merey, or Tessa as she now preferred. I quickly removed the wraps covering the others’ faces.
“The Sisters,” Galateia hissed. “Kill them, kill them now. They are too dangerous to leave alive and at our backs.”
I relieved them of the weapons that were easily visible, then I probed for any they may have had hidden on them. I was exceedingly thorough.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I am searching them for weapons. What does it look like?”
“It looks like you are groping them.”
I had to admit; it looked that way, but that would not deter me from ensuring they were completely disarmed. I may die one day, but it will not be because I underestimated a woman. I ran my hand up the redhead’s thighs, then down the front of her pants, and withdrew a dagger and three throwing knives. I tossed them on the bed with the rest of the growing pile and continued, making certain I left nothing behind. When I finished, I bound all three with the wraps I took from their heads. I searched the coverings first, of course, and found two small pins and a thin wire concealed within each. My task complete, I focused my full attention on the Mata. I looked at her with a raised brow, my point made against her criticism of my search.
“I am glad you were here.” She shivered.
“So am I,” I said. I caressed her cheek.
“You have to kill them,” she said. “They are too dangerous.”
“But why are they an enemy, Galateia?” I asked. “Did you offend the Prince somehow? Did I? Did I offend Tessa when we danced? Are they operating under the Prince’s orders? Can they even operate on their own?” I shook my head. “No, there is too much we don’t know. They can’t die until we have those answers. These women are deadly weapons, and I would know who wields them.”
The Mata studied them, and me, for a long moment. No doubt she, too, was wondering what inspired the attack. She didn’t look happy about it, but she nodded her assent.
“Where will you take them?” she asked. “Surely not to that brothel.”
“Somewhere where no one will hear them scream.”
Galateia wrapped her arms around my neck. “You are trying to arouse me, aren’t you?”
“Now is not the time, lover,” I said. “I have work to do.” I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close.
“Why?” Her curious eyes searched my face. “Why would you do this?”
“For you,” I said. “I thought that was obvious.” She smiled.
She looked to the three unconscious Sisters. “Promise me you will kill them once you get your answers.
I leaned down as I kissed her.
“Galateia, my love, I always keep my promises.”
Family Reunion
I had asked the Mata to send for Malcius, who I was more familiar with than any other of her guards. She ordered him to prepare a wagon. It seemed he’d also prepared someone to follow me to see where I took the girls. I had to stop to deal with the spy. I knocked him unconscious and left him tied up in an alley. Perhaps I needed to have a talk with my new lover about trust.
The wing I had driven into was mostly this one space. It was immense and resembled a warehouse with sturdy shelving lining the walls. There were a few other rooms in the back, but this room took up the bulk of the easternmost building. The stone floors had seen hard use throughout their long history. A worn track in the tightly spaced cobbles traced a loop, undoubtedly caused by wagons entering, making a circuit to deliver supplies, then exiting. Shelves lined the walls, and a large alcove sat along the back with a few chairs and a hearth to provide some small amount of light and heat.
I lifted the first of the three rugs and slung it over my shoulder. It responded with an oof and started bucking wildly.
“Stop that,” I said, punching the rug. “It didn’t have to be like this.”
Once I had them unloaded, I grabbed the edges of the rugs and dumped out each would-be assassin onto the floor in a heap. The redhead kicked at me with bound feet, and they all glared with hate-filled eyes. I slapped the woman’s kick aside, and she spun on her back like a turtle, feet now facing the hearth and away from me.
“I said stop it. We’re going to have a talk, and you’re going to cooperate.” All I got in return were curses muffled by their gags.
I removed Tessa’s gag and followed suit with the other two. Now that their mouths were no longer stifled, I wished I had left them in.
Oathbound: The Emperor's Conscience, Book 2 Page 19