Chapter Fourteen
The Match
Pluck dared not breathe as Ardor drew his sword on her, and he started to attack her till Han stopped him. The tent closed in on her, trapping Pluck and she wanted to flee, but where could she go?
Melee tilted his head. His reaction to Pluck was calmer than Han’s Second as he exclaimed, “He’s a woman.”
“What do you mean woman?” Ardor yelled. “Don’t you see he’s... it’s a beast!” He paced the tent, gesturing angrily with his hands as he questioned, “How could you have kept this from me... your men? This...” He pointed to Pluck and said, “This abomination should never have been allowed to walk among us and yet it wears the High Guard insignia.” He punched one of the large wooden poles holding up the tent, and his knuckles reddened from the impact. “Fass! For all we know Pluck’s a Necrom.”
She bowed her head ashamed. Ardor reacted as she imagined. He hated her with a passion.
“He’s a woman,” Melee repeated still stunned.
“That’s enough!” Han shouted as his face paled as he grew weaker, but he mustered the strength to glare at his Second and told him, “You know nothing.”
“He is right,” Edward added in a gentler tone. “When we were children I angered a witch. She would have vexed me if Pluck had not pushed me out of the way and taken the curse. Could you imagine me ruling as the thing you see?”
Edward’s words shocked Pluck. He also saw her as a monster; Edward must think her a horrible and ghastly thing to behold. No wonder he reacted as he did when she asked for the Kiss.
The prince continued, “You must understand, she saved the Fletching Kingdom, and I owe her a great debt.”
“And so do I,” Han added. “We the High Guards were not there to protect the prince, but Pluck a nine seasons old child was.” He shivered as he held his side, he glanced at the dark blood on his palm, and then he commanded, “I don’t want you to disrespect her again, am I clear?”
Ardor’s rage faded. Perhaps he was wrong... He remembered the stories his grandfather told him of the time before the Five Kingdoms and how the Necroms nearly destroyed man. Ardor searched Pluck's face and its beastly guise, seeing only what he had been taught to despise; it was a Necrom. How could he forget? Ardor exploded with loathing as he yelled, “I’m not wrong! It's an abomination. Nothing you say or it does shall ever change my mind!” Desperate for Han to see what he already knew, Ardor knelt beside Han and told him, “You are my commander, and I would die for you, but you have done us all a great dishonor. It’s a mistake to have it here.” He stood and warned him, “Wait till the Morgogs find out, then you shall know hatred.” Ardor turned from Han and said, “I am ashamed; I am greatly ashamed you took this Beast and taught it the High Guard way. I cannot be in here any longer.” He stormed out, fearing he would spill blood if he stayed any longer.
Pluck turned to Edward, fighting back tears as she asked him, “Are you sure you can protect me? Your own men are against me.”
“Not all of us,” Melee spoke up as he stepped forward. “It does not matter who or what you are. You are a High Guard, one trained by Han, and that makes you my brother... er... sister.” He grabbed his hilt and swore to her, “You shall have my steel if you need it.”
She told him, “Thank you, the others won’t be as kind.”
The ground shook, and Melee went to the tent entrance and told them, “The Dreadgons are back.”
Pluck turned to the prince and said to him, “I’ll be out soon. Could you give me a moment with Han?”
Edward nodded and exited with Melee.
She knelt at the commander’s side and started, “There's so much I want to tell you and yet I don’t know where to begin.” She wiped her runny panther nose and then continued, “You’ve been more than a mentor to me. You’ve been my father. I don’t want to fail you, and I don’t want to lose you. You’re all I have.”
“Pluck, you must be strong. My life is near its end. Watch over Edward. Much danger lies ahead of him and please forgive Ardor. He feels betrayed but once he sees who you really are, he shall come around.” He gripped her arm as he warned her, “Watch out for the Morgogs. They can be treacherous.”
Two High Guards walked in and waited by the entrance. They were shocked to see a Beast within, but they said nothing seeing that Han spoke with it.
“It is time,” Han said. “Save our princess.”
Pluck kissed him on the cheek, stood, grabbed her cloak from the chair, unclasped her High Guard pin from it, and attached the charging Black Elk to her shirt. Pluck smoothed her hand over it as she said out loud to give herself courage, “If nothing else, I am a High Guard.”
She headed out, and the two soldiers gasped again, but didn’t say a word as she passed them. Her heart pounded as if it would burst through her chest. They knew a beast walked among them, and she could never take that back.
Beauty of the Beast #1 The Mystic Rose- Part A- The Flower, The Sword, And The Kiss Page 26