Lose A Princess, Lose Your Head (Merchant Blades Book 2)

by Alex Avrio

  There was a gnawing pain in her gut. She was half an hour away from Jaeger – the intensity of the pain of the curse grew with both distance and time spent apart. Leon’s next fearsome blow would, if she hadn’t parried, have cleaved her jaw in two. His gamble left his side exposed but, before Regina could take advantage, Guido thrust his own sword at her. She blocked, and took a few steps back to give herself room to block Leon’s next attack. They had had the initiative for too long. If she was to defend the Young Duchess from an attack, merely holding off attackers wouldn’t be enough.

  Regina began an attack towards Leon, assessing him as the greater threat. He parried her cut and thrust. Regina sidestepped Guido’s attack from her side, the strike falling on the unprepared Leon. He managed to block the worst of it: Guido's sword glanced off his own but he still got a solid whack on the shin. A lesser man – without the skill and blunt sword to take the worst off the blow – would have been severely injured.

  “Well done,” Ten’Daertha said without smiling. It was unclear whether she was talking to her own men or Regina. She drew her own sword. “My turn.”

  She came at her with such ferocity that Regina could only retreat. The woman fought with the stamina of a twenty year old. Regina did all she could to block and parry the slashes and thrusts, to avoid the vicious cuts. Ten’Daertha dodged a strike that Regina directed back her way, spun like a whirlwind, and hit Regina hard on the back with the flat of her sword. Regina groaned from the force of the blow, and turned to face her, sucking in air. She felt a warm trickle on her lips. She wondered whether Ten’Daertha had caught her on the nose but realized instead it was the familiar pain of being too far from Jaeger. Ten’Daertha afforded no respite. Before Regina realized what had happened, Ten’Daertha’s handguard smashed into her midriff, leaving her gasping. Regina managed to block two more attacks and made a last-ditch attempt to counter-attack, but ended up flat on her bottom from a powerful blow from Ten’Daertha. She would never get this job.

  Ten’Daertha offered Regina her hand to help her up. She was breathing evenly. Regina was panting. She took Ten’Daertha’s hand.

  “Don’t worry about it, kid,” Ten’Daertha told her with a rare smile. “You did well. Those two couldn't even stand straight after I'd finished with them.”

  Ten’Daertha narrowed her eyes and looked her up and down. “I think you’ll do,” she eventually said. Regina wiped her bloody nose with the back of her hand.

  “I’ll give you a trial run before making a final decision. The Duke’s throwing a masked ball to mark the beginning of the carnival in a few days. We’ll need extra hands. Go to the palace seamstress to get fitted for a uniform. Come again tomorrow and we’ll go over the details.”

  “Thank you, Commander,” Regina said. “If I may, seeing as you mentioned you need the extra help, I have an associate that adheres to your high standards.”

  Ten’Daertha laughed. “If he or she is anything like you, by all means bring them along. I’ll take a look at them.”

  Regina thanked Ten’Daertha in relief, realizing it would be nigh on impossible to do anything without Jaeger close by. Regina noticed a man standing at the edge of the circle, who had been observing the duel intensely. A young man, dressed completely in black, he wore a simple coat with a circle of silver embroidered around his cuffs. He reminded Regina of Morgenstern, only this man’s features were more elfin. His hair was golden and his amber eyes were focused intently on her. He was uncommonly handsome. In Regina's experience extraordinarily attractive people were trouble. She thought for a moment he might be the Duke’s brother-in-law. Ten’Daertha followed her gaze.

  “Demetrius, we don’t see you often here,” she said.

  He gave a little bow. “I am where I need to be.”

  “Mysterious, as always,” Ten’Daertha commented.

  “Who's your friend?” Demetrius asked.

  “Captain Regina Fitzwaters, a potential member of the young Duchess’s guard,” Ten Daertha replied. Regina remained silent. Demetrius tilted his head slightly, like a bird of prey studying a field mouse. He was expecting something from Ten’Daertha. She finally caught on.

  “This is Demetrius, assistant to the Chief Alchemist of Korthi.”

  Demetrius smiled at Regina. She forced a smile in return. The last alchemists they’d met had been trouble, and this man was too young to be an assistant to the Chief Alchemist. The Chief Alchemist of Pella had been an old man and his apprentices rather than his assistants had been of Demetrius’s age.

  “I expect you and your associate tomorrow, to make the necessary arrangements,” Ten’Daertha said. Regina took this as her dismissal, bowed slightly and turned to leave.

  “Let me escort you,” Demetrius offered.

  “Demetrius,” Ten’Daertha called from the other side of the room, “escort her to the palace gates, not your bedroom.”

  Demetrius smiled back insolently, the smile of a child that will do as it pleases. “As the lady wishes.”

  He walked with Regina out of the room and down the corridor. Once they turned the corner and no one was around his smile vanished and he grabbed Regina’s arm.

  31 DEMETRIUS

  “I beg your pardon?” Regina pulled her arm from his grasp. “I am here for a job.” There was a glint in Demetrius’s eyes she didn’t like.

  “Are you?” he said sarcastically. “We haven’t seen one of your kind here for a while.”

  “A Merchant Blade?” Regina replied, “There are quite a few of us about.”

  Demetrius leaned towards here. “No. A Hunter.”

  Regina’s blood drained from her face.

  “Where’s the other one? You always come in pairs. Where is he?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Regina said, and turned to walk away, but Demetrius grabbed her again and Regina couldn’t break his hold; it was like an iron clasp. He pulled Regina’s left sleeve back with his other hand, revealing the black mark on her wrist, in the shape of the waning moon.

  “So you don’t know?” Demetrius scoffed. His amber eyes flashed, then his expression suddenly softened and he let Regina go. “Let us not argue. We are both on the same side. Let us go somewhere we can talk undisturbed. Come with me.”

  Regina had no intention of following him, but found her feet moving of their own accord, walking with Demetrius through the palace until they reached his personal rooms. Regina looked around the room as the heavy door closed behind her. One wall had a bookcase filled with leather-bound books and ancient scrolls. The shelves on the opposite wall bent under the weight of flasks and jars of various sizes. Regina made out a two-headed snake floating in a jar on the lowest shelf. Next to it, in a large bottle firmly sealed with a cork, floated a lizard the color of lit coals. She leaned to take a closer look and the lizard blinked. She backed away quickly. On the top shelf was a large sphere. Inside, a white fog swirled. Regina was certain there was something else stirring in there, something hidden in the whiteness.

  In the middle of the room a large table was covered in flasks, vials, books, scrolls, pens and ink bottles. In the center lay a large parchment with a complicated design and several of the signs of the zodiac.

  Demetrius waved his hand around the room. “Do you like it?”

  “I don’t have much experience with how an alchemist’s laboratory should look,” Regina replied, folding her arms.

  Demetrius laughed. “I am not so much an alchemist as– well, my talents lie in other areas.”

  Regina looked at the scroll with the complex writing. “An astrologist? Astronomer?”

  Demetrius opened his hand, revealing a small sphere of translucent light in the center of his palm. He moved his hands further apart and the sphere expanded. When it reached the size of a small child he turned his palms upward and it vanished.

  “An illusionist?” Regina said.

  Demetrius leaned forward, his face close to Regina’s. “Illusionist would imply what I do is illusion.” His
lips almost brushed hers. “I have been very friendly in the past with many Huntresses. I am certain we would get along magnificently.”

  “That remains to be seen,” Regina said, trying to remain calm.

  Demetrius bent down and kissed her lips. Regina wanted to slap him but couldn’t move.

  “I wonder if the rest of you tastes like wild honey. Shall we find out?” He kissed her again. “You’re thinking of the Hunter. He’s welcome to join us. I hear he’s not above such things.” He smiled at her then put his fingers on his lips. “He's a dark one, this one.”

  Regina used every iota of her willpower to move but failed. Demetrius flashed another enchanting smile.

  “I had not realized how young you are. How does it feel, my dearest, to be something more than yourself?”

  “How will you feel when I rip your lungs out through your windpipe?” Regina said.

  “I like your spirit. But it is simply the truth. You are now something more than Regina Fitzwaters, former Captain of the Merrovigian cavalry. You are the embodiment of something ancient and powerful. One of the pair was well-suited for this role, dark and cruel. You– well, you, my dear, were the person best fitting the description in the vicinity. Thus you were called forth to serve.” He let out a little sigh. “As we all do. We all serve.”

  Demetrius took a large silver platter from the top shelf and put it on the table. “Why are you here, Huntress? Our young Duchess certainly has a past, but she no longer turns. You have no power over her now. You cannot have any of those who've taken refuge from Pella here.”

  Regina felt her blood turn to ice. There were certain people from Pella she had dearly wished she’d never meet again.

  “Who is your young Duchess?” she whispered, afraid of hearing the answer.

  “Can it be that you don't know?” Demetrius mocked. “Or do you toy with me?” He looked at her intently. “It is Bianca di Korthi, formerly Di Angelo, the niece of the Duke of Pella.”

  Regina inhaled sharply. Unpleasant memories from their time in Pella came flooding back. All they needed now was Bianca and Francesco in positions of power standing in their way.

  Demetrius inspected her, taking in every line and curve of her face. “Why are you here?” he asked again, his voice smooth and seductive.

  Regina opened her mouth, ready to tell him everything. Then she closed it again. “We can’t have a conversation if you keep doing this,” she observed, in what she hoped was a cool manner. All she wanted was to get out of that room.

  Demetrius laughed, revealing perfect white teeth, and shrugged. Regina felt control return to her limbs. She needed all her self-control not to break Demetrius’s jaw.

  “You are very, very young. A mere seedling that has just emerged into the forest to gaze upon very, very old trees. You, both of you, should be careful who your friends are and who you choose to make your enemies.”

  “You said we are on the same side.”

  “Who is your Master, Hunter?” Demetrius asked.

  “Who is your Master, Magician?”

  “You should know this, Huntress. Along with many other things. I am starting to believe you know very little.” Demetrius came closer and gave here another long hard look. He brought his hands together in contemplation.

  “Do you know what you are, my dear?” he asked, his voice smoother than southern honey-wine. “Under all your pretenses and sophistication? A captain in the army and now a mercenary. What did you do so well then, and what do you do so well now? If we take away the layers of excuses and self-righteousness, you are a killer. You kill because you are told to. Oh, you tell yourself it has reason and purpose, for country and defense. But you spill the blood, draw the sword, pierce the flesh, and kill. Yes, you are a most efficient killer. The deadliest sort of killer: one that believes their cause is just.”

  “And what are you?” Regina asked, her blood pulsing faster.

  “Another thing entirely. But we are talking about you now. And him. He knows what he is, and hates himself for it. He is an even better killer than you. He doesn’t care about the cause. You are close. But does he know how dangerous it is to be loved by you? Every man you have ever loved is now dead. Your father, Daniel, Gerald, Kendon.”

  “Shut your mouth,” Regina shouted, rage suddenly filling her whole being.

  “Ah, a feisty one. I like those. You should have seen Astrid, a fierce woman to behold, especially in my bedroom.”

  “Do you ever think of anything else?” Regina growled.

  “Many things. But it was Desire that came together with Lust and brought forth the universe. This is the lifeblood of the universe. The foundations of creation. And a source of much pleasure and enjoyment it is too.”

  Regina let out a sound that was between a huff and spitting out phlegm caught in her throat.

  “You should not scoff at things you partake of and enjoy, my dear,” Demetrius observed. “I have but to say a word and you would take your clothes off with great haste, jump into my bed, and emerge the most satisfied of women.” Demetrius leaned so close to Regina that she thought he’d kiss her neck. But he whispered in her ear, “If you are nice to me, I shall be very nice to you. I shall teach you such wonderful things. What do you say?”

  32 THE POLISHED SURFACE OF THE STILL WATER

  REGINA knew well what she wanted to say, but it dawned on her she could no longer ignore this strange new world or the things in it. She and Jaeger pretended each full moon didn’t happen, refusing to talk about it afterwards. Now she realized that they were not alone in this new landscape. There were others in the new world: dangerous predators, like Demetrius, who could rip her to shreds without a second thought. And in this new, as in the old, feelings and emotions could be used as weapons, love could gut you as surely as a bayonet.

  “Thank you, but I think I’ll decline your invitation for now,” Regina said, with what she hoped was a pleasant smile. As in the old world, advances should be refused gracefully lest you make enemies you do not need.

  “Shame. You are not stunning, but beautiful in your way. Soon you will have that irresistible allure of our kind. Maybe you will change your mind.”

  Regina smiled. “Maybe,” she replied softly, while thinking about kicking him in the crotch. He smiled back, and there was such power in that smile that for a few moments she found him irresistibly handsome. She shook her head to chase away the thought. Then another came. When they were children, Regina and her sister read fairy tales and folk stories with great interest. Woe to the poor man or woman that fell victim to the charms of the feys and spirits and became their servants forevermore.

  “This isn’t about how beautiful or desirable I am, is it?” Regina said. She had no idea about the rules of this new game but she had to bear herself with confidence. “It’s about control. If you sleep with me, you have power over me.”

  “Clever girl.” Demetrius’s smile was like a chilly winter’s morning. He brought a finger to his lips as if telling her to shush. He took a crystal vial, pulled out the stopper and poured the clear liquid into the silver platter. “I have worked too hard and for too long to let you and your kind undo my work out of ignorance. Come here.” Regina came closer with trepidation.

  Demetrius passed his right hand over the water. “You have heard of the Old Empire, yes? People think it sprung fully formed in a single night, spreading its shining wings in the light of dawn. It took many hundreds of years to spread from one side of the continent to the other. It started out small and helpless like an infant, and grew into a great warrior. The Old Empire was born here, in the southern peninsular, in what is now the southern Duchies. It replaced an even older empire, grown too old, its time come, now absorbed into the new reality. Look.”

  Regina looked at the surface of the water; it was like a polished mirror. Images stirred. The legions of the Old Empire marched across the face of the continent, absorbing smaller city-states and tribes. Shining new cities were built and temples of white marble columns
and gilded roofs were erected. In the marketplaces merchants prospered while philosophers discussed complicated matters. In the Houses of Learning scholars learned about the past and constructed the future. In great libraries scribes preserved knowledge from all corners of the vast empire. Everyone was a citizen and spoke the same language. There was no war, no conflicts, only prosperity and trade.

  “Most of the Old Emperors and Empresses were capable in the governance of the Empire. They had an army of advisors and bureaucrats to help. I grant there were the odd hedonistic ones, like Titus, with his island of delights, and Claudius, who gave his own interpretation to the term pleasure garden.” Regina was almost lost for words as successive images appeared of the pleasure gardens.

  “Then there was Agrippina and Commodus of course, both with an unhealthy taste for blood. They built the arenas and started the bloody sports there.”

  “I’m impressed, I really am,” Regina said. “If my teachers gave history lessons like you, I’d have paid attention.”

  Demetrius’s lip curled almost into a snarl, the veneer of pleasantness evaporating. “Do not mock me, Hunter. For then came the Riders from the Eastern Steppes, and other things came with them. It was not just the legions that fought them, but the Hunters and Magicians, such as you and I – for the things that came brought unspeakable terror.” Demetrius laughed harshly at her expression.

  “What, you thought that the might of the Old Empire was brought down solely by the Riders?”

  Regina remained silent.

  “The battles that followed scarred the soul of Eressia forever and brought down the Empire. It took several hundred years but it spread cancerously from the eastern borders. The Empire slowly crumpled like a rotten parchment. There was fighting now on the surface of the water, bloody battles with no mercy for the legions that lost. Villages and whole cities were burning, raped and looted, their inhabitants sold to slavery.