“He seems…pleasant,” Aston offered, unsure of how else to describe the man without insulting Jade.
“Oh, he is. He’s a real joy to be around,” she replied sarcastically, pulling Aston to a stop and resuming their earlier position. Aston smiled at her, and she knew she was forgiven. She prayed Ernst wouldn’t tell her father she was here, or that she was with Aston. As much as she didn’t want to turn her brother in, if he got her knight killed, she wouldn’t hesitate.
**
Talbot had been leaning against the wall furthest from the dance floor for most of the night. Any brazen lady that came to him with the intent of asking for a dance took one look at his face and walked away. His black leggings were uncomfortable, his red tunic itched like mad, and he felt stupid wearing a mask when everyone could tell who he was. His steely grey eyes and dark curls weren’t hidden in his disguise, and arriving with his mother and father had given him away.
He was Talbot, the unmarried Prince of Fridel, and he would love to dance with any lady that threw herself at him. Or not. He had too much on his mind to worry about dancing with princesses.
Sighing, Talbot let his eyes wander over the crowd, stopping as he noticed Ernst across the room talking to a couple he didn’t recognize. Glancing closer, he realized he did know them. The princess’ red hair was dead giveaway paired with the knight’s dusty blond. Jade and Aston; so they had come. Talbot pushed off the wall, heading toward the trio. As he neared, Aston grabbed Jade and pulled her into the crowd, leaving an annoyed looking Ernst behind.
As he reached Ernst’s side, Talbot stopped, unsure of what to say to the man.
Ernst turned to face him, his grimace immediately turning into a relaxed smile. “Talbot! I was wondering when I would run into you,” he said, giving Fridel’s prince a firm handshake.
Talbot copied his expression, grateful to find someone in the crowd he trusted. “I saw you from across the room and thought I’d wander over. Who were you talking to?”
“My sister and some man she dragged along with her,” Ernst answered, looking away.
Talbot knew instantly that Ernst was hiding something. He also knew that the other prince knew of Aston. Surely he recognized the knight with his sister? “You didn’t know the man?”
Ernst shook his head. “I didn’t recognize him and he didn’t tell me his name. I’ve long given up trying to keep my sister’s suitors in order.”
Talbot nodded. “I see. I think I’m going to retire to my room.”
Ernst glanced sideways at Talbot. “I thought you enjoyed King Roland’s winter ball.”
“It’s not the same without King Roland,” Talbot replied before walking away.
**
Jacob ripped his golden mask from his face and threw it on the bed. Tonight had been his best chance at finding Jade, but there had been too many people, too many distractions. He pulled the gold shirt from his body, crumpled it in his hands, and threw it across the room before falling backwards onto his bed. The marquess folded his arms behind his head and stared at the deep red canopy above him. How was he going to find his princess? Where would she go next? Back to Fridel? To Adion?
He didn’t love Jade, but marriage wasn’t about love. Marriage was about ownership. It was having someone to clean the house, tend to the dishes, bear children and be obedient. Jacob couldn’t see the Princess of Adion complying to the latter. His runaway princess was everything but obedient.
With a sigh, he stood and went into the private bath attached to his chambers. He grimaced at his reflection. His brunet hair was tousled and stuck out in various directions, and his chocolate eyes were underlined in purple from lack of sleep. There were indentations on his face where his mask had resided for most of the night. He’d been so busy worrying about Jade that he’d forgotten to take care of himself.
The marquess shrugged and stepped into the warm bath he’d requested. He sighed in contentment as the warm water soothed his aching muscles. He’d spent more time riding in the last two months than he had in his entire life. Jade is worth it, he told himself, pushing his body completely underwater. He ran the bar of soap provided over his skin and lathered his hair with it, the sweet, lavender scent more soothing than the warm water. Jacob automatically felt better being clean. He stayed in the water until it became cold; only then did he step out, dry himself with the plush towel Queen Eve had ordered for him, dress, and climb under the down comforter of his bed.
He planned to stay in Northsbury with Eve for a few days after the rest of her royal guests left. It had only been a month since King Roland had been murdered. He didn’t feel right, leaving the queen alone with her memories. He would find Jade sooner or later.
**
Jade was exhausted by the time she and Aston fell into bed that night. The run in with her brother had worn her out, and she was thankful Aston hadn’t asked her any more questions about the encounter. The knight was down the hall in the washroom, changing out of his costume, and Jade didn’t bother locking the door as she stepped out of her dress. Aston had already seen her unclothed; what more was there to hide?
The door opened behind her and she turned, expecting Aston. She wasn’t expecting Ernst to be standing behind her. She quickly grabbed a blanket from the bed and wrapped it around herself, hiding the face that she wore only hose under her dress. She strode toward her brother and locked the door behind him.
“What the hell are you doing here, Ernst?” she whispered, pushing him away from the door in the hopes that Aston wouldn’t hear them talking if he returned.
“That’s a question I’d like to ask you, sister. What were you thinking, bringing Aston Smith here? You do realize that if anyone recognized him he would be arrested and hanged, right? Or thrown in a dungeon to rot!” he responded.
“No one recognized him, Ernst.”
“I did, Jade! And I’m sure Talbot did too.”
Jade’s eyes widened. “Talbot saw him?”
Ernst nodded. “He came to me after you two left and started asking questions.”
“You didn’t tell him--”
“Of course not, Jade! I wouldn’t be here yelling at you if I wanted Aston to die! I’d be leading Talbot here!” Ernst said, his voice rising.
Jade cringed. “Please, keep your voice down. I don’t want Aston to hear you.”
Her brother walked away from her, running a hand through his hair. “What are you going to do, Jade? Run with Aston forever? Leave him, return home, and marry Jacob?”
“I don’t know, Ernst! Right now everything is just… things are happening so fast! I found Aston in the woods outside Fridel and started traveling with him. I didn’t know he was hunting you, Ernst. I don’t know what to do. He won’t feel free until he catches you, and I can’t help him do that. At the same time, I want his freedom more than anything, because…” Jade cut off there, unable to continue. Her shoulders slumped in defeat.
Ernst sighed. “I don’t know what to tell you, baby sister. There’s no way for you to get everything. You can’t have a happy, loving family and have Aston Smith. You have to choose what’s most important to you.”
“I know that, Ernst. I can’t make Father happy and marry Jacob. I can’t make you happy and leave Aston. I can’t help Aston gain his freedom and keep you safe. When did my life become so complicated?” she asked, falling onto the bed and burying her face in her hands.
“When you fell in love with Aston Smith.”
“We all need the waters of the Mercy River.
Though they don’t run deep, there’s usually enough just enough, for the extravagance
of our lives.”
- Joan Agee -
Twenty One
The ride home was quiet and cold. Jade worried that Aston had heard her talking to Ernst, but he hadn’t said anything when he’d come in that night. She had made her brother sneak out through the window so Aston wouldn’t see him, and she’d curled up in bed before the knight returned to the room. Now, trudging through
the snow, she felt the need to tell him her secret, but she couldn’t bring herself to.
What if Aston went to her father and told him about Ernst? Her father’s heart would be broken and her brother’s life would end. Aston still wouldn’t be free; he’d hang with Ernst.
The princess sighed and stared at the back of the man riding in front of her. He’d been quiet, undoubtedly thinking about where they would go next. In a couple of weeks, the snow would start melting and Ernst would go after Talbot. If Talbot died, there would be no one to clear Aston’s name and his entire journey would have been for nothing.
As their cabin came into sight, she breathed a sigh of relief. Two days in the snow had been more than enough and now she wanted to grab her favorite book, start a fire, and not move until winter was gone. She stayed outside to take care of Edward, but then quickly went into the cabin, shoving out of her frozen coat and grabbing logs for the hearth.
Aston came in right behind her, following suit with shucking his coat and sitting on the couch. Jade sat next to him once the fire was started, leaning against his side. She breathed a sigh of relief when he put his arm around her. She’d been afraid he was mad at her for making him go to the ball, or because her brother had recognized both of them. He didn’t seem to mind now, though.
“Jade, about what Ernst said,” Aston began, and she tensed in his arms. “What does he know about me? How does he know about me?”
“Ernst knows a lot of things he shouldn’t,” the princess replied. Her brother knew every dirty secret there was to know within the powerful families of their five adjoining kingdoms. It was what had finally driven him to start killing powerful people off, one by one.
“That doesn’t answer my question, Jade,” Aston replied, looking down at her.
Jade sighed. “Ernst was just afraid that someone would recognize you and you would end up being killed,” she told him.
“Why would your brother care if I died?”
“Because our father respects you as a knight and my brother is convinced you are innocent. He’s kind of adamant about people getting what they deserve out of life, and he knows you don’t deserve to die,” Jade said, meeting Aston’s gaze.
He smiled at her. “I suppose that runs in the family,” he said, leaning down to kiss her. Jade sighed into the kiss, wishing she could tell him everything. Her life would be so much simpler if she wasn’t hiding secrets from everyone.
“What are we doing until winter ends?” she asked, hoping to change the subject. She was tired of talking about her brother, and his name made guilt settle into her stomach. She wanted the feeling to go away.
“I have to go into Fridel tomorrow,” Aston answered, and she whipped her head around to look at him again.
“Why would you go to Fridel?” she asked him, sitting up.
“I’ll be careful, Jade, don’t worry. The person I am going to see is an old friend. He’d never turn me in,” Aston replied, pulling her back against him. Jade still wasn’t comfortable with the idea, but she knew she couldn’t stop the knight if he really wanted to go.
**
King Donn stared unblinking at the letter in his hand. He had known it was going to happen; with the way his kingdom was run, it was bound to. It wasn’t, however, supposed to happen like this.
Say goodbye to your son.
Five words, but they meant so much. The Rogue was targeting Talbot. Donn glanced out the glass wall of the throne room. He could almost see the snow melting faster as he stared. As soon as the snow was gone, the Rogue would be here for Talbot; for his son.
Donn scoffed and strode across the room, tossing the parchment into the lit hearth. The flames quickly engulfed the thick paper, licking at its edges tentatively before devouring it. If he didn’t know, then Talbot wouldn’t know. If the letter didn’t exist, maybe the Rogue would change his mind and attack someone else. Or maybe he would still come and kill his son. Either way, the king wanted to feel no remorse, wanted no part in his son’s death.
Talbot walked into the room. He saw his father next to the fire and joined him, staring into the flames. The king was glad the parchment was no more than crumbled ash. Maybe the prince wouldn’t question him.
“Any news today, Father?”
Donn almost flinched but controlled his actions. He couldn’t give anything away. “Nothing, son. No word at all.”
“Thank you, Father.”
He didn’t miss the way his son relaxed at the words before smiling and leaving the room. The prince was a coward. If Talbot knew his life was in danger, he would flee and then what would happen? The Rogue would kill him..
No, Talbot would stay and meet his fate. The Rogue never struck the same family twice. Once his son was dead, he would be safe. His kingdom would never have to worry about the Rogue again, and he would carry on as usual. It may seem cruel, throwing my son to the murderer, but Talbot brought this upon himself.
That’s what Donn told himself. If his son had been kinder, shown some respect, some love for his people, then he never would have been targeted. If Talbot had stopped the Rogue before he murdered Duke Aeron, his life would not be in danger now. So many things the prince could have done to save himself, but he kept failing. Over and over, Talbot allowed his life to slip further and further, allowed his future to become less certain and his fate to loom ever closer.
Why should the king bother trying to save his son’s life when he was doing such a great job at ending it himself? Let the murderer come and take the failure off his hands. The kingdom would be better off without him.
**
Aston woke before Jade the next morning and slipped out of the room, carrying pants and a shirt with him. He dressed in the living area and made his way to the stable, deciding to take Edward instead of Sterling. Sterling was too easily recognized in Fridel, and recognition was something he needed to avoid.
The knight pulled on his cloak, brought the hood up over his head, and rode into town. The streets were nearly empty; everyone was inside where it was warm. The shop he wanted came into view over the top of a cobblestone hill, and Aston caught himself smiling at the familiar sight. Zane’s Jewels.
After dismounting, he tied Edward outside and stepped into the shop, nodding at the guard stationed there while keeping his head down. Once inside, he lowered his hood. A tall, thin man came from the back, his face breaking out into a grin when he saw Aston standing there.
“Aston Smith! As I live and breathe!”
“ Zane. It’s been too long,” the knight replied, grabbing the man in a firm hug.
The brunet man stepped back but kept his hands on Aston’s arms, looking the knight over with his golden eyes. “It has! But why are you here? Everyone in Fridel is looking for you. I hear even soldiers from Adion and Azazel know of your supposed betrayal,” he said, bringing Aston further into the shop and switching his sign around to “closed.”
“It’s true, Zane, but I can’t hide forever.”
“Well what brings you to my shop? What could you possibly need from here?”
“A gift. For a woman.”
“Ah, I see. She must be very special, Aston.” Zane led him to a case at the back of the small shop. Aston glanced around at the various tables and cases, but his friend didn’t let him stop to look. “Trust me, Aston, what you want is back here.”
Aston smiled as they passed a glass case filled with sparkling rubies. The walls of Zane’s shops had all been painted to match the precious stones he sold. One was sapphire blue, another emerald, and another ruby. The back wall was white, and Aston knew Zane was leading him to his most precious collection of diamonds.
When Zane stopped, he pulled a small, square pillow from the case, setting it in front of Aston.
The knight shook his head at the diamond necklace laid before him. “She’s from a well off family, Zane. I want to buy her something that no one in her family would think to get,” Aston told him, glancing around the case. His gaze landed on a silver bracelet hidden
in the corner. He pointed to it and Zane smiled, nodding his head.
“It’s perfect,” Zane said.
Aston agreed.
**
Talbot hadn’t thought anything of the strange urge to go into town. He almost never ventured outside the palace unless his father forced him, but today was different. He’d woken up with the desire to walk the streets of the country that would one day be his, and he’d come across the one thing he needed to save his life: Aston Smith.
What was he doing at Zane’s jewelry store? Curious, Talbot stood across the street, facing another shop. He could see Aston’s reflection in the shop window as he left, pulling his cloak over his head again. The knight jumped onto a horse he had waiting outside and rode off down the street.
Talbot followed him, running to keep up with the horse’s quick steps. As soon as they reached the trees, Aston sent the horse into a trot.
If it weren’t for the light layer of snow still on the ground, the horse’s tracks clearly preserved, the prince would have lost them. Instead, he reached the small cabin in the woods after Aston had already taken care of his horse and gone inside.
He looked the place over, rating it in his mind. It was nowhere near as grand as his own home, but the quaint little cabin seemed comfortable enough. Shaking his head, the prince turned his thoughts to the real reason he’d come.
He needed to get Aston to help him.
**
A knock at the door made Jade look up in surprise. She was sitting in a chair by the fire, her book in her lap. Aston was in the other room, changing out of his wet, snow-soaked clothes. Who could be at the door?
Setting her book aside, she crept to the door and peeked out through the glass crescent. When she saw Talbot, she pressed herself against the cabin wall beside the door. Another knock had her pressing her hand to her heart to stop its frantic beating.
Knight's End (The Knight Trilogy) Page 15
