Parno's Peril

by N. C. Reed

  “At once milord,” Harrel almost managed to hide his pleased look.

  Almost.

  “My lady, if you would?” he held open the tent flap and bowed slightly, his arm pointing more or less toward Parno's private quarters.

  “Harrel will show you where I live,” Parno told her quietly. “I have work to finish, and then I will join you.”

  “Very well,” she curtsied again. “Oh,” she stopped after only one step. “I forgot about Mister Bell!”

  “I can see to that,” Parno promised.

  CHAPTER SIX

  -

  Parno was awake long before the sun peeked over the horizon, as was his custom. He had already bathed and dressed before Jaelle had even awakened. She raised from her slumber, hair tousled around her like a halo as she smiled at him like a sleepy cat.

  My God, she is beautiful, he thought to himself, looking at her.

  “Good morning,” he said, walking over to where she was pulling her legs beneath her to sit up, pulling the light blanket that covered her around her in a sarong. He kissed her lightly as he sat down beside her.

  “Good morning, my Prince,” she replied, her voice still drowsy.

  “How did you sleep?” he asked. His bed was a bit better than a camp cot or blanket roll, though it was still a bed found in a war camp. Still, being Lord Marshal had some perks.

  “I slept wonderfully,” she gave him another sleepy smile as she lay her head over on his shoulder. “Once I slept,” she added mischievously. He couldn't help but laugh.

  “What must you do today?” she asked.

  “I must do pretty much what I do every day,” he admitted. “Sign useless forms and requests, approve useless orders and ridiculous expenditures of Crown monies, and just basically be a bureaucrat for most of the day. The rest of it I'll spend worrying about what our enemies are doing.”

  “You sound as if you do not like it,” she noted.

  “Good, because I don't,” he said at once and she giggled. Straightening, she caressed his hair softly.

  “My poor Prince,” she almost cooed. “Trapped in a position he doesn't want, kept there by a duty he cannot and will not shirk.”

  “That's me,” Parno nodded. “Jaelle, we really need to talk,” he turned serious. She tried to place a finger to his lips again but he grabbed her hand before she could, shaking his head.

  “No, no more shushing,” he told her firmly. “I really like you. A lot. More than I probably should considering the position I find myself in. More than I can allow myself to,” he sounded sad.

  “I know that people would never accept you having a woman such as I,” she told him, smiling faintly. “I told you, it is enough.”

  “That... you think that's what I'm worried about?” his shock was clearly evident. “That I'm worried about what people think? You obviously don't know my reputation nearly as well as you think you do, Jaelle. I couldn't care less what people think of me or who I spend my time with.”

  Jaelle hid her own surprise as she heard the very thing Tinker had said to her coming from the Prince himself. She sat up straighter suddenly, realizing that this was not what she had expected it to be.

  “No,” Parno shook his head. “I don't spend a single second of my day worried about what people think of me, and doubt I ever will. And anyone who had a problem with you would soon find they had a problem with me as well. Don't let such a thing worry you another minute. Understand?”

  She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

  “No, the problem is something else entirely,” Parno continued. “While what people would say wouldn't bother me, it would certainly bother you in all likelihood, but even that isn't the real problem. The problem is simple; people close to me die. I am a target of the Nor, of subversive elements of our own Kingdom, even of my own brother. If you were with me... if someone realized how close I was becoming to you... there is no way I could keep you safe, Jaelle. You would become a target too. That life you have that you like so much? With Tinker and the others? There would be no going back to it, and even they might be targeted simply because they are important to you. That's why Aaron was with you at the Inn,” he added. “Just in case. Not just for you, but for all of you in case someone found out that Tinker works for me.”

  “I… I see,” she managed to stammer, even though she clearly didn't completely see. She had never imagined…

  “You are beautiful,” he told her, his hand cupping her face tenderly. “You are beautiful but also kind, generous, with a kind and warm and caring heart and I... in another place or time... a time when I wasn't a danger to everyone around me... I think I could even...”

  This time she did shush him, softly and gently yet still firmly, her eyes filled with resolve.

  “My Prince,” she said softly. “Always thinking of anyone other than yourself. Such a rare, rare man.” She kissed him with her finger still between their lips. “I understand. I really do, now. Your worry for me warms my heart and my soul. What must be must be. Go and do the things you must do and leave me to... to finish,” she settled for saying. “Thank you,” she whispered, kissing him one last time.

  Parno didn't know what else to say and wasn't sure it would matter, so he got to his feet and pulled on the jacket she had so thoughtfully repaired and returned to him. With a final look at her he picked up his sword and left.

  -

  “We are making better time than I had anticipated, milady,” Winters spoke through the window of the carriage. “We should make the camp by lunch or thereabouts, should nothing change.”

  “Thank you, Captain,” Stephanie smiled weakly. He tipped his hat and road ahead. Stephanie sat back, brooding slightly, but also worried.

  “It will be alright, whatever happens,” Edema told her confidently. “Remember that you are doing this because you need some type of-”

  “For God's sake, I know!” Stephanie finally snapped, and for once Edema didn't snap back, caught by surprise. “My God, whatever would I do without so many people to manage my life for me! All I wanted was a child!” she almost screamed, but caught herself just in time, lest her escort hear her.

  “Stephanie,” Edema started, but Stephanie was shaking her head violently now.

  “No, you've done enough, thank you. Tricking me into this and then practically forcing me to follow through with it. Now here I am, a nervous bloody wreck and about to have to face the man I...” She stopped suddenly, her poise returning as she schooled her features and dried her tears. She pulled a small mirror from her bag and checked her face, removing any trace of tears as best she could.

  Edema decided that remaining silent in this case would be best.

  -

  It was immediately obvious to Harrel Sprigs that Parno was in a dark mood. It was as if there was a cloud following the Prince around, and everyone who could do so was careful to stay outside of that cloud. Harrel was nearly certain he knew what was wrong, or at least the cause, but in his position, there was nothing he could do about it.

  He gave Jaelle an hour to bathe and dress before he returned to Parno's tent, where he found her sitting on a freshly made bed, mending clothes. She looked up at him when he entered but didn't offer to get up.

  “I can have that taken care of if you'd like,” he offered, even though he knew the answer.

  “No,” she smiled brightly. “No, I would prefer to do it myself this time. I shall not have the chance to do so again. It is little enough that I can do for him.”

  “I understand,” Harrel nodded, and he did. Finally. “If you need anything, you have but to call.”

  “Thank you.”

  -

  Parno's day wasn't going to get any better.

  “Courier from General Allen, sir,” Harrel interrupted his daily battle with paperwork. Parno welcomed the break and motioned for Harrel to admit the courier. The message he carried was at least partially good news.

  “They were... here, this morning,” the traced a place on the m
ap and Harrel made a pencil notation there. “Still moving west. Not making the best time in this muck, but still moving nevertheless.”

  “Where are they going?” the prince asked.

  “I have no clue, sir,” Enri Willard admitted. He and General Davies had been summoned when the contents of the courier message had been discovered. “There's just nothing out there, milord.”

  “It has to be an exercise,” Davies offered. “It has to be something they've laid on to keep their men busy. To burn energy and keep the rust knocked off while they sit in camp. This is just the first unit we'll see moving,” he predicted.

  “Possible,” Enri agreed, as he had before. “If it's not then I just don't understand. There's no way that an infantry unit could flank us, and if they were trying to end around the army and hit Shelby they would send more men than that and do it more quietly.”

  “Send a runner back to Allen to continue his observations and remind him to keep a close eye on that road. If they're going to send another unit, they should so in another day or so. If the first one returns, then we’ll know it's just an exercise. If it doesn't, then it either means they're establishing a permanent presence whereever they stop, or else they are planning to go around us. Either way, we should know for sure in a few days. Until then, we continue as before.”

  “Yes sir,” voices chorused and men filed out, leaving Parno alone once more save for Harrel Sprigs.

  “Do I smell food?” he asked Sprigs suddenly.

  “It's nearing lunch, sir,” the young man nodded.

  “Seriously?” Parno was shocked. Where had his day gone.

  “Yes sir,” Sprigs grinned. “Want me to serve you here?”

  “That would be fine,” he nodded absently. “I need to get caught up on all this,” he indicated the mounting paper on his desk, “while we're stuck here in the mud. Thank you.”

  “Of course, milord.”

  -

  Word travels quickly through an army camp, but sometimes not nearly quick enough. The arrival of a carriage being escorted by a short company of the Prince's Own would never go unnoticed, let alone should it happen at mid-day. Despite the stir such an arrival created, word did not reach Harrel Sprigs before the carriage did. Thus, he was just on his was to get lunch for his Prince when the carriage and escort rolled to a stop at the assembly of tents and small buildings that served as the headquarters area for the Soulan Army.

  That alone was enough to shock him. Such a carriage with such an escort could only spell trouble ahead. And when he spotted Captain Winters opening the carriage door, he knew immediately who would be exiting. He almost made his escape to warn the Prince but had taken only three steps when he heard his named called.

  “Harrel!” Edema Willows called. “Harrel Sprigs!”

  Sighing, the young man turned to confront the Lady Duchess Cumberland.

  “Hello, My Lady,” he bowed stiffly. “I must say I am surprised to see you here.”

  “I'm sure you are,” Edema smirked. “We are here to see Parno. Please tell him we have arrived once you have shown us to visitors' quarters so we can freshen up.”

  “We?” Harrel felt a knot of dread settle in his belly. Before Lady Willows could answer he saw none other than Stephanie Corsin-Freeman stepping down from the carriage.

  “Oh boy,” he murmured to himself. To Edema he said;

  “Of course, milady. This way.”

  -

  “What?” Parno's voice was low and deadly.

  “Sir, I... I had no idea...” Sprigs stammered. “I mean we had absolutely no word whatsoever that she was coming!”

  “Relax,” Parno told him, waving a hand at his secretary. “I sense Edema's hand in this. I assume they are here to see me?” he sighed.

  “She asked that you be notified they were here to see you and then be directed to visitor quarters to freshen up. I took them to the tenting we use for visiting Generals. I... I honestly didn't know what else to do!”

  “It's alright,” Parno assured him. “Just... bring them in when they're ready,” he sighed.

  “Yes sir.”

  -

  Jaelle had smelled the food cooking as well and it made her realize she had been working all morning and had not eaten breakfast. Setting her work aside, she rummaged around in Parno's tent and found a pair of hammered tin plates that could double as shallow bowls. Smiling to herself she decided she would surprise him with lunch while he worked.

  That decision made, she set out to find the source of the aroma of cooked beef, intent on taking care of Parno to the very last minute she was allowed.

  -

  “Duchess Cumberland and Lady Corsin-Freeman, milord,” Harrel announced, his voice neutral.

  “Parno, dear boy!” Edema swept into the room like a whirlwind, moving to hug him tightly despite knowing he would be less than pleased to see her and her traveling companion.

  “Edema,” Parno said evenly. “Stephanie,” he added with a nod, not bothering to offer her an embrace despite her body language clearly screaming she would gratefully accept it.

  “That'll be all, Harrel,” he told Sprigs, who withdrew with as much grace as possible so as not to appear as if he were escaping.

  “Well, take a seat,” Parno extended a hand before returning to his own chair. “What is it that brings you two here, even knowing that this is no place for you?”

  “Is that all you have to say?” Edema demanded, an elegant eyebrow raised in open defiance. “After three days in a carriage and one day of layover to wait out the weather? Just to see you?”

  “I am not in the habit of receiving social visitors in the Army's headquarters, Edema,” Parno told her. “And I am especially not fond of receiving unannounced visitors.”

  “That's why I asked Harrel to announce us,” Edema smiled.

  “That isn't what I meant and you know it,” Parno replied evenly. “Now, in all seriousness, what is it that has brought you here. Is something wrong with Memmnon?” he asked in sudden concern. “Surely that news would have been sent by Royal Courier.”

  “Nothing is wrong with your brother, milord,” Stephanie spoke for the first time. “I have given him his release, in fact. He is still in recovery but that recovery is no longer in doubt.”

  “Well, that's good to know,” he sighed in relief. The last thing he needed was for something to happen to his brother.

  “We simply came to visit, dear,” Edema tried again.

  “You don't 'simply come to visit' in a war zone, Edema,” Parno was beginning to be short even with her. “Moreover, one where we could literally experience an attack of overwhelming numbers at any moment. Now I’ll ask just once more; why are you here?”

  Edema blinked at Parno's harsh tone. For the first time she was beginning to think Stephanie had been right; this wasn't a good plan.

  “Very well,” she decided to lay all their card on the table. “I know what happened between you two, and I have brought her here to try and repair this rift before it grows worse. The two of you have to-”

  “I don't have to do anything,” Parno cut her off cleanly, much to her shock and surprise. “I'm selfish. Haven't you heard? Selfish, self-centered, it's all about me, me, me,” his voice was grating. “And I had a safe journey by the way,” he addressed Stephanie directly. “Thank you.”

  Her face flushed at the well-deserved jab but she remained silent.

  “That's beneath you, Parno,” Edema scolded.

  “Beneath me,” Parno repeated slowly. “You make it sound as if this 'rift' as you put it were my doing. Is that your intention? Because if it is then you can stop here. Make yourselves comfortable for the night in the visitor quarters because you'll be leaving in the morning,” he stood. “Wonderful to see you again and all that.”

  “You are not getting out of this so easy, Parno McLeod!” Edema leaped from her chair, her voice rising. “This has got to end!”

  “It did end,” he almost hissed as his temper finally boiled ov
er. “I trusted her,” he pointed at Stephanie, “and I trusted your opinion of her. Remember that? And what did I get for it? Did she tell you everything she said to me? Making demands on me that she knew good and well I had no way to fill? Hm? Did she mention how selfish I was to mention hundreds if not thousands of years of tradition that I can't simply toss out the bloody window just because she's accustomed to getting her way whenever she wants it? Did she tell you all of that?” he almost screamed. Edema rocked back on her heels in the face of Parno's sudden onslaught and watched as he visibly made an effort to control himself.

  “I wasn't the one who walked out or walked away,” he said very quietly. “I wasn't the one who made demands of the other. I wasn't the one accusing the other of insincerity. Did she bother to tell you that she had not even made her parents away of our 'arrangement' at the time she was demanding that I marry her in secret so that I could try and get her pregnant before I returned? Did she tell you that? Or how she attacked me personally because of royal customs that I have to follow simply because I am now the Crown Prince?”

  Edema looked at Stephanie who was now a bit pale.

  “She failed to mention that her parents weren't aware,” Edema admitted. “In fact, I corresponded with her mother under the assumption that she did know.”

  “Well, she didn't,” Parno said before Stephanie could respond. “Now if that's all you came for, this should settle things nicely, wouldn't you say? I-”

  Whatever Parno was about to say went unsaid as a wholly unexpected guest chose just that moment to make an appearance.

  -

  Jaelle had managed to find the nearest mess line and was given two heaping plates of beef stew and bread to go with it. She drew many admiring glances but the presence of a few of the Prince's men in camp was more than enough to prevent anything other than looking.

  Almost bouncing, Jaelle made her way to Parno's 'office' tent, intent on sharing lunch with him before she had to depart.

  No one had bothered to tell her that Parno had visitors and the guard had been moved back to allow him privacy as he spoke to the two ladies who had arrived earlier.