I didn’t laugh, neither did my father. I watched from the corner of my eye as he scowled at his food, wearing his usual sour expression.
Queen Nicola’s plump lips curved upward. “I see we have a new guest here tonight.” Her eyes set on Blaise.
Blaise looked to me. I suddenly found my soup very interesting. She was on her own. I’d told her not to come.
“Yes,” Blaise cleared her throat. “Excuse me, Your Majesties. Pardon me for my boldness in joining you tonight. I am Blaise D’meras. You knew my father.”
The king and queen both raised their brows, but it was King Corbin who asked, “D’meras. Was your father Dozier D’meras?”
Her mouth twitched and her eyes darkened as she answered, “Yes, he was.”
“Your father was a good man. He’s the reason my army has quality weapons,” King Corbin told her. “He was a talented blacksmith. I’m sorry for your loss, of him and your mother. I knew they had a daughter, but I believed you’d been killed too. Tell me, how did you escape?”
Blaise took a long sip of the wine we’d been poured, wine I left untouched. She answered, “The Redeemers, two men, came to our house while we slept. I heard them enter. My father went to see who’d intruded. I hid in my wardrobe while they fought. I knew he was dead when my mother screamed. I couldn’t stand to leave her to face them alone. I came out of my room just as one of the men slit her throat. They didn’t notice me.” Her hand tightened on her fork as she continued, as if remembering the exact motion she’d made. “I had the dagger I kept on me at all times. I leaped on the closest man’s back and stuck it through his neck. His friend, the one who’d killed my mother came at me. I threw the dagger. It struck him in the eye. I never miss my target. My father created weapons. He taught me how to use them.
“I left my home to come here and ask to join The Guard. I want to kill the traitors responsible for my parents’ deaths. Their lives were taken because they worked for you, Your Majesty.” She bowed her head, releasing her fork.
The hall was silent. I swear I could hear the king’s breaths. Her words hung in the air like a heavy burden.
King Corbin closed his eyes. “My condolences, daughter of Terra.” The tension in the hall melted with his words. The king opened his eyes, resolve shone in their hazel depths. “You will have vengeance. We all will. I would be pleased to have you in my guard.” He pointedly looked at Constable Bouvant who nodded in agreement. And that was that. Blaise was now a member of The Guard.
Plates of cooked vegetables and slabs of glazed lamb were brought out. My mouth watered at the aromas filling the hall.
We dug in to our meal in silence, until Chamberlain Leblond asked in his soft, almost feminine voice, “What of the Redeemer boy who was captured yesterday? Were you able to get answers from him, Cedric?”
I paused chewing, waiting for my father’s answer.
“No.” My father turned his unforgiving gaze on me. “He’s just a boy who wanted to defy his parents. He didn’t understand what he was doing. His father should’ve kept a better eye on him instead of letting him runaway to become something he’s not.”
I fumed at those last words. It was obvious he was speaking to me… about me.
Blaise noticed my clenched jaw. “Perhaps you should taste the wine,” she advised.
“I. Don’t. Drink. Wine,” I ground out.
“At least you learned one of the things I taught you,” my father grumbled.
I pushed myself back from the table and rose. “Excuse me, Your Majesties, but I’d like to take my leave now.” I bowed deeply, remembering to be respectful.
“You are excused,” the king said, unable to keep the amusement from his tone.
I didn’t give anyone else the chance to speak. I marched from the great hall without a glance back. I hated how much my father affected me. I wasn’t going to stay and take his ridicule though.
Footsteps scuffed from behind. I paused. Blaise caught up to me. “I see where you get your moodiness from now,” she mused.
“Go away.” I started back down the corridor leading to the stairs that would take me to my room.
Still, she followed.
When I reached my room, I opened my door and faced her, making sure to block her from entering this time. “Find someone else to bother, Blaise. I’m in no mood for company.”
“You can’t shut everyone out because you feel sorry for yourself.”
Our eyes locked. I took a step closer. “Perhaps you’re right. Perhaps I need a—distraction.” I let my gaze roam over her lean figure and watched her shrink back. My face twisted with disgust. “Then again, maybe not.”
I slammed the door in her face before she could utter another word.
Chapter 9
I slept until midday. I missed my shift, but I didn’t care. I stretched and rolled over in my bed. My feet hung off the end of the mattress, a downfall of being tall.
A loud pounding on my door had me sitting up straight.
Constable Bouvant didn’t wait for me to answer before entering. The seasoned man with steely grey hair and an unshaven face tore the blankets off me. “I know your father’s a cold-hearted bastard, but that’s no reason to sulk in here all day and miss your shift.”
I groaned, tilting my head against the cheaply-made wooden headboard. “I know, I’m sorry. I let him get to me.”
“You’re lucky Ger offered to take your shift. You’ll take his tonight. Don’t think you’re getting out of this,” he said sternly.
“Yes, sir.” His eyes softened, and I wished he were my father instead of Cedric.
“You should’ve told me about Blaise.”
I placed my feet on the cool, hard floor and got up to don my leather armour. “I planned to, but she didn’t give me a chance before she invited herself to dinner to ask the king to be his soldier.”
“Try harder next time. Her father served the king well. He seems fond of her. You’re both lucky. There could’ve been repercussions for bringing an uninvited guest to dine with the king.”
“My thoughts exactly,” I said on a sigh.
“Pardon?”
“I understand,” I replied louder. “I’ll do better next time.”
“Good. Now, get cleaned up.” He scrunched up his face. “It reeks in here.”
I tucked my face into my arm and smelled. I grimaced. He was right. I needed a bath.
On my way to drop off some of my clothing with the laundress, I ran into Blaise. She’d found a tunic and breeches that actually fit her. The white and brown fabric hugged her body in a flattering way. Her figure wasn’t boyish at all. She’d strapped a bow and a quiver full of arrows to her back. “Prick,” she spat as we passed each other.
I smiled widely and continued on my way. It seemed I offended her the night before. Good. Maybe she’ll leave me alone.
After the laundress promised she’d have my clothes clean and back in my room the next day, I washed myself in the creek running through the eastern side of Terra.
I’d barely finished washing up when a frantic tolling sounded from the bell tower, my cue something was amiss. I rushed from the water to find out what was going on, almost slipping along the way. The soles of my boots had muck on them from the banks of the creek.
My comrades were charging for the gates, swords ready. Archers climbed into the bushy trees. I thought I spotted Blaise among them. Ready or not, she was now a soldier… part of The Guard responsible for wiping out The Redeemers.
At the gates, men and women fought their way inside, shoving and cutting through our soldiers.
I dove into the chaos with the sword I’d always kept by my side. A battle cry escaped my lips as animal instinct took over. Kill or be killed. Slash, parry, strike, spin, a brutal dance of blood and guts. I welcomed the blood washing over me like a cleansing rain.
A man with one eye cornered me. It could have been coincidence. Or he could’ve been the man Blaise had stabbed in the eye.
I moved to trip
the unskilled brigand, not paying attention to the opening he’d left me.
He froze before I reached him, his face a picture of shock. He toppled to his knees and fell face forward into the dirt. A sturdy arrow with vivid emerald and ruby covert feathers stuck out of his back. Slick crimson seeped around the arrow’s shaft.
I scanned the trees. I didn’t see her, but I heard Blaise holler, “That’s for my parents!”
I spat out a gob of blood and sought my next prey. A young woman with no hair snarled at me; she was practically foaming at the mouth like a feral animal. Red blood splattered her face like war paint.
I smiled.
I advanced on her with a series of strikes.
She parried every blow, crying out like a lunatic each time. Her wild eyes flashed… inhumane.
She twisted and hit my sword with her wider blade so hard I felt the reverberations all the way up my arms.
Too slow, my recovery was too slow.
She slid her blade up, slicing my chest with the tip of her sharp steel.
I grunted. Dark spots danced in my vision. I couldn’t afford to make mistakes.
I ducked and swung at her stomach, gouging her. She yelped and covered the gushing wound with her arm. She tilted her head to the side and laughed as though she welcomed the pain. Goddess, this woman was insane.
She stomped down hard on my foot. The pain, worse than the cut on my chest, blinded me.
I blinked to clear my vision as her foot met my hip, sending me crashing to the ground, my sword knocked from my grip as my jaw met dirt.
She flew through the air with a glee-filled scream, her weapon aimed for the kill.
Time slowed. My fingers met the hilt of my sword. I regained my grip and pointed the blade skyward as I pushed myself up, catching her beneath the jaw. I drew the blade up, finishing the kill.
Blood poured down on me and gurgled from her mouth. Her once wild eyes turned lifeless. Just like the eyes of every other traitor I’d watched die.
I retrieved my weapon and continued ending any traitor who crossed my path.
Dark crimson puddled on the ground. The metallic scent of blood filled my nose. This group was larger than the one we’d attacked in the forest, much larger. Friend and foe fell around me.
King Corbin rode on his white stallion, cutting down Redeemers with his infamous battle axe. I didn’t know when he’d joined the battle. He was no coward, hiding behind his palace walls while his soldiers fought to save his kingdom.
While there were dozens of Redeemers, and they’d had the advantage of surprise, we still had the numbers.
A few stragglers got away, running from the kingdom like rats running from water. Those who couldn’t escape took their own lives. No one wanted to be questioned… tortured.
Arrows jutted from many of the bodies splayed across the ground. I was sure a large sum of those arrows belonged to Blaise. She was a good shot, but I didn’t dare tell her so when I spotted her speaking with some of the other archers afterward. Instead, I said, “I see you found some clothes that fit.” She didn’t need her ego stroked. She was annoying enough as it was.
“No thanks to you,” she hissed. “Elly was kind enough to give me some of hers and let me sleep on her floor.”
“How nice for you. I’m ravenous after executing so many Redeemers. I’ll be at The Watering Hole if anyone’s looking for me.”
“No one will be,” she assured me in a sing-song voice and went back to her conversation.
I bit my lip to keep from smiling and went to find my first meal of the day, late as it was.
On my way to the tavern, Ger intercepted me. “Hey! Constable Bouvant wants us all to meet him at the training grounds.”
I sighed. “I’m half starved. I haven’t eaten today.”
He clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned bone-white. “That’s your own damn fault! You can fill your stomach after this.”
I’d never seen Ger so angry. I guessed he wasn’t too happy about covering for me.
We hurried to the training grounds without another word.
“Now that we’re all here,” the constable started shortly after I’d joined my comrades at the training grounds. “I need to get to the bottom of how those traitors got inside the kingdom. Ger and Faron, you were on perimeter duty. What did you see?”
Ger answered first. “Pierre was dead at the gates and Redeemers were already partway through when I made it around there. Fabien was nowhere to be found.” Pierre and Fabien were on gate duty when we were attacked.
“And you, Faron? What do you have to say about all of this?” The constable turned his unrelenting green stare on the giant soldier who I was supposed to be on duty with.
Faron straightened his back, as much as he could, and answered in his thick, deep voice. “I had made it around to the gate just in time to see Pierre fall. I didn’t see Fabien.”
Constable Bouvant tapped a calloused hand on the pommel of his sword, circling The Guard. “Does anyone know where Fabien is?” A blue vein popped out of his neck where the skin sagged with age as he scanned our faces.
Everyone shook their heads or muttered, “No, sir.”
“Shit!” the constable raged, causing a few to start. “If any of you see or hear of him, you come tell me—immediately! We have let a traitor fool us. Are anymore of you confused about where your allegiance lies? Because I’m telling you, if I find out anyone else here is a traitor, I will personally end your life! Is that clear?” He was so worked up, blood rushed to redden his tanned face. His chest rose and fell with each breath.
“Yes, sir,” all of us answered in unison.
“Pardon?” he shouted.
“Yes, sir!” we repeated, shouting our answer.
“Good. You’re dismissed. Get your wounds looked after. I better not hear of any infections from any of you. I want an extra two men on perimeter duty from now on.”
Ger turned his face at me.
“Can I eat after I see a healer?” I asked Constable Bouvant. I knew he’d want me on duty since I’d missed my shift.
“Fine, but you’re pulling a double shift after that. No more impertinence will be tolerated.”
“Yes, sir.”
The constable was about to stalk off, but he turned back and searched the crowd. He pointed at Blaise. “Good job today. I want you on duty with Seph. He found you, so he can teach you.”
“If I did so well, why am I being punished?” she commented low enough he couldn’t hear her.
I was sure I was the one being punished.
After a healer’s apprentice tended to my wounds, Blaise followed me to The Watering Hole.
She kept her burning gaze on my bowl of thick stew while I ate. I pretended she wasn’t there and enjoyed every bite of my meal, taking my time.
When the serving wench I’d dallied with came around, bosom pushed high against a teal corset, Blaise asked her for a mug of ale. She downed the foamy pale liquid quickly and slammed it down. “I needed that.”
I sniffed. “Alcohol isn’t the answer.”
“Maybe for you it’s not. I know how to handle my ale. And what’s it to you, anyways?” She smoldered from her wooden stool across the table from me.
“You’re right. I don’t care what you do. Just remember to keep your wits with you. We’re about to be on duty.”
“I wouldn’t be if it weren’t for you. And I’ll be fine, thank you.”
She was almost cute when she was so furious… almost.
When I tired of wasting both our time, I paid the serving wench enough coin for my food.
The wench held out her hand, waiting for Blaise to place the coin in it for the ale she’d drunk.
Blaise slid her gaze to me, shame written in her eyes.
A smile pulled on my lips as I realized she didn’t have any coin yet and she had to rely on me to pay. I waited a moment longer, to see her squirm a bit, before I plunked another coin into the waiting hand.
“Thank yo
u,” she mumbled.
I shrugged off her gratitude and headed for the exit.
We had two horses readied at the stables and met the other two guards on duty outside of Terra’s looming stone walls.
“I’ll take the north side,” I told the others.
“I’ll take the south,” Blaise cut in before one of the others could answer. “I’d like to be as far from him as possible.” She pointed her chin at me.
The average-sized soldier with oily light brown hair chuckled to the other one. “These two could use a tumble in the bedchamber I think.”
Blaise shot him a look that would cause any normal person to wither.
“I’ll take the east side,” he smiled at her, leaving the west for his older comrade, the man with two chins and almost no neck.
“Ride back and forth along your side. Yell if you spot anything suspicious,” I explained to Blaise. There was nothing to teach about being on perimeter duty. It was a boring job most of the time.
I didn’t see her for the rest of the night. Once I’d finished my double shift, she’d retired to the palace already, probably gossiping away with Elly in her room. Celestia had mercy on me, for once.
I heard movement from behind my room’s closed door when I approached it in the corridor. I unsheathed my sword and prepared to attack as I flung the door open.
I froze, my sword mid-air, as my gaze fell on the black robed man slouched on my stool. “Father?” He hadn’t even flinched. “What are you doing here?” I demanded, putting my weapon away. Shock gave way to annoyance. He had no right to come into my room uninvited.
He didn’t speak. He studied a spot on the floor. It was then the flashes of steel poking out from the sleeves of his robes caught my eye. I went to him and pulled one of his sleeves back. He growled a warning.
The steel was a splint, strapped to each arm to keep it from moving. “Who did this?” I asked, carefully putting his sleeve back in place. “Who broke your arms?”
“Traitors. Who else?” he hissed.
I couldn’t help but laugh. He’d thrown me out like I’d meant nothing to him. And now… now he needed me? This was preposterous. Celestia was toying with me. “Where are they now?”
The Elemental Diaries - Complete Series Page 53
