“Oh, you had another mission then?” King Aric asked.
Jade answered him. “He didn’t have a mission, Father. He was sentenced to death.”
“Blasphemy. I see the man standing before me now,” King Aric said, sticking his chin out.
If the situation hadn’t been so dire, Jade might have laughed. “Prince Talbot told his father a story about Aston, about the night Duke Aeron was killed,” she told him.
Aric frowned. “Tell me more, daughter.”
“You saw Aston come back from chasing the Rogue, right Father?”
“Yes, yes. I set my hand on his shoulder as I passed him in the hall,” Aric said, glancing at Aston. Aston nodded.
“Talbot told King Donn that he was the one who chased The Rogue Royal while Aston stayed behind,” Jade told him.
“So, King Donn blamed me for the death of Duke Aeron and sentenced me to hang,” Aston added.
King Aric nodded, his eyes narrowed. “I understand. Why are you here, then, Aston Smith?”
“Talbot and King Donn know I am here. The Rogue targeted Prince Talbot two nights ago, but Talbot came to me requesting a deal. He told me that if I saved his life, he would tell his father the truth about that night two months ago.”
“And you agreed?” King Aric asked. Aston nodded. “Talbot and Donn will be coming here?” Aston nodded again. “And you want to be here when they arrive?”
“Yes, Sire.”
Aric looked at his daughter. “Is this story true? Did Talbot really lie to King Donn about that night, get Aston sentenced, and then offer him a deal to regain his freedom?”
“Yes, Father. I was with Aston when Talbot came and made the deal,” Jade answered.
“Very well. There is only one thing I can do until Talbot and Donn get here,” he said. Jade looked at Aston, who glanced back at her before returning his eyes to the king.
“And what is that, your majesty?”
King Aric sighed. “Guards!” he called. “Arrest this man! Bring him to the dungeons!”
“When I saw you, I was afraid to meet you. When I met you, I was afraid to kiss you.
When I kissed you, I was afraid to love you.
Now that I love you, I’m afraid to lose you.”
- Unknown Author –
Twenty Four
“Father, please!” Jade exclaimed, pushing Aston behind her. “Don’t arrest him!”
King Aric looked at his daughter and sighed. “There’s nothing I can do, Jade. King Donn has labeled the man behind you a traitor. I have to arrest him.”
“But you know Talbot lied to King Donn, Father! You saw Aston coming down the hall after Talbot left my room! Surely you could talk to Donn and make some sort of deal,” Jade said, her voice bordering on pleading.
“I’m sorry, princess. There’s nothing I can do.” King Aric looked at the ground. The guards chose that moment to rush in, grabbing Aston’s arms and wrenching them behind him.
“No! Don’t hurt him! Let him go!” Jade cried, rushing to her knight and throwing her arms around him. She buried her face in his chest, allowing her tears to seep into his shirt.
“It’s okay, Jade,” she heard Aston say. She looked up and her eyes met his. She could see fear in them, but his love for her shone brighter and she found herself believing him.
“You promise?” she asked, holding on to the childish idea that promises were always kept.
“I promise.” Jade let go of Aston, then, and watched her father’s guards take him away. Fear settled into her and she wished she’d kissed him before he disappeared.
**
His wrists were rubbed raw, his shoulders sore from the strain of being held above his head. Aston pulled at his restraints one last time before giving up. His wounded shoulder ached at its awkward angle, but he supposed it was fitting. Prisoners weren’t meant to be comfortable.
How many men had he put in this same predicament? How many times had King Donn told him a man was guilty and then watched as Aston brought the man down?
How many of those men had been innocent, like him? Jade had been right about him and Ernst being the same.
Aston cursed under his breath. He was terrified. Ernst wouldn’t come forward as The Rogue Royal and Aston couldn’t reveal him without hurting Jade. If there was one thing he could never bring himself to do, it was hurt her.
The knight tilted his head back, his eyes travelling to a hole in the roof no bigger than a rabbit. The full moon above him allowed the dungeon some light, saving Aston from being immersed in darkness. It also allowed him a detailed view of his dungeon mate, a man who was no more than bones, chained across the room from him.
Is that to be my fate? To be left here, forgotten, until I completely disintegrate? He shivered at the image that passed through his mind. After all he’d been through, with all he’d found out, he still wasn’t ready to die.
**
“I don’t understand, Father. I don’t understand why you think there is nothing you can do. You are the only one who can save him.” Jade was seated on her throne, her father beside her. She wouldn’t look at him. She had promised herself her eyes wouldn’t return to her father until he set Aston free.
“What do you want me to do, Jade? Do you want me to release Aston Smith, let you run away with him, and tell King Donn he escaped?”
“No, Father. I want you to tell King Donn what you know about the night Duke Aeron was murdered. I want Aston to be able to live without being hunted. I want him to be given back his honor, and his title as a knight,” the princess answered, setting her eyes on the throne room’s doors when they threatened to turn to her father.
“So, you want me to tell Donn what I think to be the truth.”
“You know it is! And so does Talbot! How many people did the prince address outside my room that night? They all know the truth as well! Even I know Talbot was with me when The Rogue managed to escape!”
“I’m sorry, dear. I can try, but I don’t know how much good it will do your knight.”
Now, Jade looked at her father, a smile forming on her face. “Thank you, Father! I am going to tell Aston!” She stood to leave, but her father grabbed her arm.
“Donn and Talbot will be here momentarily. Stay for now. If everything works out, then go and tell the knight. Don’t give him hope when it might be wrenched away again.”
Jade nodded and sat back down. She knew her father was right, but she wanted to see Aston. She wanted to kiss him and hold him. She wanted to assure him that everything would be fine.
**
Aston blinked as candlelight from the hall met his eyes, watching as a tall shadow came toward him. His eyes widened as he recognized the figure.
“What are you...” Aston started.
“Don’t say anything,” the person said.
Aston furrowed his brow in confusion; then, his eyes wandered from his visitor’s face to their hands. One was clenched in a fist at their side. The other was holding a sword that was dripping blood onto the concrete floor. His sword. Aston struggled against his restraints, but still they held. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to leave Jade behind. In all of his years as a knight, Aston had never once begged for his life to be spared. Now, in the face of death, with his princess somewhere above him, he knew that was what he had to do.
“Jade--”
“Jade won’t know. No one will. The guard outside the door is dead. By the time Jade gets down here, or anyone, for that matter, you will be too.”
“Please…I swear… as soon as everything is settled, I will leave. You’ll never see me again,” Aston pleaded, setting his eyes on the sword. His visitor’s sword hand twitched, but otherwise didn’t move.
“I’m sorry, Aston Smith. You are a fine man, but I can’t let you stand in Jade’s way.” They raised their blade, setting the tip against Aston’s chest. He looked up to meet the eyes of his murderer, surprised to see a single tear slip from their right eye. “I really am sorry.” As soon as t
he words left their mouth, Aston’s killer slid the bloodied blade home.
**
King Donn and Prince Talbot arrived an hour after Aston was taken to the dungeon. Jade was still seated beside her father, her nerves making her squirm in her seat. Talbot’s arm was in a sling, she noticed, but he smiled at her when they entered the room. Jade returned the smile, hoping Talbot hadn’t gone back on his deal with Aston. If there was one person King Donn would listen to, it was his son. Without Talbot’s help, she feared Aston would be dead by morning.
“King Donn, Prince Talbot, welcome,” her father said, standing to welcome his guests. Talbot bowed slightly and Donn gathered King Aric into a brief hug. “Donn, I have a few things I would like to discuss with you,” Aric began.
Donn held a hand up to stop him. “There is no need, old friend. Talbot explained everything to me yesterday morning. I’m sad to say I threw away my best knight without investigating the claims made by my son,” Donn said, surprising both Jade and her father. Donn sent a sideways glance at Talbot, his eyes narrowed, and at Talbot’s wince, Jade found herself wondering what Talbot had promised his father in return for Aston’s freedom.
“What are you saying, Donn?” Aric questioned.
“I am saying you should free my knight,” Donn answered.
Jade sprung from her throne and raced to Donn, throwing her arms around the man she had hated since meeting Aston. She then jumped on Talbot, careful of his arm, and kissed him on the cheek before rushing from the room. As soon as she was out the door, she ran into her brother.
“Jade! I was looking for you,” Ernst said, catching her by her shoulders.
“Can it wait, Ernst? I’m going to free Aston,” she replied, straining to look over his shoulder. The stairs leading to the dungeon were just to the left at the end of the hallway. She was so close, she could feel Aston’s arms around her already.
“That’s what I need to talk to you about, sister,” Ernst answered, ducking his head to meet his sister’s gaze.
She met his eyes then, her smile quickly disappearing. “What’s there to talk about, Ernst? I said I would help free him and I did.”
“He knows who I am, Jade!” Ernst said, keeping his voice low. “What if he turns me in? He’s a threat to this family!”
“If Aston was going to tell somebody about you, he would have done so already. He knows I love you and he will never hurt me. Can I go now?” she asked, spinning out of her brother’s grasp and continuing down the hallway. When she looked back, Ernst was walking away, shaking his head. She came to a sudden halt as she ran into someone else.
“Princess! I was looking for you,” Jacob said.
Jade sighed and frowned. “So was everybody else, Jacob. Move, please. I have important matters to attend to,” Jade said, exasperated. All she wanted was to hold her knight. Was that really so much to ask?
“Jade, your father hasn’t called off our marriage,” Jacob said, successfully interrupting her thoughts.
“He knows how I feel about Aston. This marriage will never happen. You may as well accept that now.”
“I’m not so sure,” he replied with a smile.
“I really don’t have time for this, Jacob,” she said, moving around him. Jacob allowed her to leave, just as her brother had. She rushed down the stairs to the dungeons, taking them two at a time. She stopped when she reached the bottom. Beside the door, the guard was laid out on his back, his throat slit. Fearing what she would find, Jade entered the dungeon. She stepped as soon as she was through the door.
Then she screamed.
“When love is lost, do not bow your
head in sadness; instead keep your
head up high and gaze into heaven for that
is where your broken heart has been sent
to heal.”
- Author Unknown -
Twenty-Five
Jade rushed to her fallen knight, quickly unshackling him and pulling his head into her lap. “Aston? Aston!” She screamed his name, praying he would open his eyes. She wouldn’t even care if he called her princess, as long as he called her something! When those blue eyes she loved fluttered open, her breath caught in her throat and her heart jumped in her chest. He was alive.
“Jade?” His voice was harsh, choked.
She ran a hand through his hair, trying to soothe him. “I’m here,” she answered, leaning down to place a kiss on his brow.
Aston sighed and coughed, placing a hand over the wound in his chest. “I love you, Jade,” he said, fighting to keep his eyes open. He had to tell her one last time. She needed to know.
“I know you do, Aston. I know. Hold on, okay? Help is coming,” she lied. Truthfully, she didn’t know if anyone would come. Her father was still talking to Donn and Talbot. Her brother and Jacob were long gone. The guard outside the door was dead. There was no help.
“I love you,” he said again, allowing his eyes to slip closed.
Jade wasn’t allowing that. “No, Aston, don’t sleep. I love you, do you hear me? I love you, Aston Smith. You’re a free man again. King Donn released you. We can go anywhere we want to!” she said, shaking his shoulders gently. Aston smiled, but otherwise didn’t respond. “Aston, please,” she pleaded.
She had done everything she’d said she would. She’d traveled with this man, hated him, loved him, befriended him. He’d taught her to saddle a horse, to skin a rabbit, to make love. And now he was dying and teaching her heart how to shatter into a million tiny pieces.
As his heart stopped, she screamed, praying for someone to hear her, to help her. Her father appeared in the doorway, his eyes widening when he caught sight of his daughter kneeling in a pool of blood, a dying knight in her lap. Two guards came in behind him, the ones who had arrested Aston, and came to her side. She glared at them as they reached for Aston, daring them with her eyes to touch him. They looked to Aric for guidance.
“It’s too late, Jade,” the king said, coming to her side and grabbing her by the elbow. “He’s gone, sweetheart. He’s gone,” he repeated, his voice soft.
Jade looked up into her father’s eyes and saw the hurt buried deep within them. She looked down at her knight and found his midnight eyes partly open, frozen, staring at her. She let herself break. Her father pulled her to her feet and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, leading her from the room. No matter how hard she fought, he wouldn’t let her return to her love’s side. The last time she saw him, he was being lifted by the two guards, and not gently. She wanted to yell at them to be careful, but what was the point? Her knight was dead.
A strangled sob escaped her throat then as the gate holding back her tears broke, releasing the pent up agony she’d been too scared to unleash. She fell to her knees halfway up the stone stairs; had her father not been holding her, she would have tumbled down them. Jade pounded her fists against the cool stone, wishing she could join her knight. Who had done this to her? Who had murdered the man who had stolen her heart? She placed a hand flat against her stomach, holding herself together when her world threatened to fall apart.
King Aric lifted his distraught daughter into his arms, carrying her to her room. She stopped fighting halfway there, letting herself lie limp in his arms. There was no point without Aston. Aric set her on her bed and left the room, closing the door silently behind him.
Jade stayed where she was until her mother came to her, hours later. She was carrying a worn, leather sheath, a shining silver blade laid atop it. The sheath was stained with blood, undoubtedly Aston’s. Whoever had murdered him had thrown it to his side, as if taunting him, saying he couldn’t defend himself.
Jade looked at the queen as she floated closer but didn’t sit up. “What do you want, Mother?” she asked. She wanted to be left alone with her thoughts, her memories. She wanted to be allowed to fade away into oblivion.
“Come now, Jade. It is not befitting a woman of your beauty to mourn so. You knew the man hardly three months. Surely he could not mean so much to you.”
>
“I love him, Mother.”
“You mean loved,” Queen Margaret corrected.
Jade narrowed her gaze. “I mean love,” she replied.
Her mother smiled, a subdued arch of her lips, before placing the bloody sheath on her bed. “Your father thought you might want this, though I’m not sure why,” she said. She gave Jade a gentle hug, which the princess did not return. Her mother knew nothing of love. A forced marriage didn’t show a woman her own heart.
“Thank you,” she replied.
With a sigh, the queen stood and left. Jade pulled the sword into her lap, marveling at its weight and size. She lifted it, wrapping both hands around the hilt and allowing the shining blade to reach for her canopy. It made her forearms hurt, holding the sword up, but it was a nice hurt.
After another moment, she dropped the sword back down and slid it into its sheath. As she did, her bracelet caught the light. She allowed her lips a small smile as she pinched the silver sword charm between her fingers. She pulled her arm to her chest, wrapping the other around her stomach as she lay down again, allowing her tears to continue. She couldn’t pretend nothing had happened, as her mother was. Her mother had known nothing of Aston. She hadn’t even seen him alive! If her father died, would the queen mourn? Would she say nothing had changed?
Jade sat up again, eyeing the sheath at the end of her bed. What would Aston do, if he were there and she was gone? Would he sit around and cry, mourning her, or would he do something to avenge her? She took a look around her room, taking in the crystal horses she’d collected since she was a child, the pink canopy above her head, the matching silk comforter she was sitting on. She looked at her white wardrobe, still propped open from the day she’d left. Her wedding dress was hanging over her mirror, undoubtedly Matilda’s doing.
Jade stood and walked to the mirror, picking up the dress and holding it over her body. If Aston were alive, they would be making plans to be married, right now. She would have a reason to wear the beautiful white gown. Instead, her mother would want her to go through with the original plans to marry Jacob. She shuddered at the thought.
Knight's End (The Knight Trilogy) Page 18
