“Very well. I would have welcomed your support in this battle, but clearly you have other ideas. You have relieved me of the burden of thinking my people murdered a king while he rode under an agreement of truce. Our council will meet to discuss our next move.” He turned to Syngen. “I will take the night to consider the matter more thoughtfully, and will meet with the council in the morning. Ensure that they know.” Syngen nodded as Terran left the room.
“What are your plans now?” Syngen asked Max.
“Anna needs to sleep before we travel to Storbrook. If you can arrange chambers we will leave at first light.”
“Storbrook?” Anna said. “But I need to return to the queen.”
“Anna,” Max said gently, “you cannot return to Matilda. Blanche has been spreading rumors that you ran away with your lover.”
“I know what Blanche has been saying,” Anna said, “and to whom she is referring.” She gave Max a pointed stare. “But the queen will not believe such a slander against my name.”
“It does not matter whether she believes it or not,” Max said. “Your name has already been tarnished.”
“Tarnished? And would my name have been tarnished if I had given into Rupert’s demands?”
“Being mistress to the prince is quite different from running away with your lover,” Max said. Anna glared at him angrily.
“I didn’t run away with my lover,” she ground out. “I was imprisoned by the prince!”
“And Matilda might even believe that! But Blanche’s tale has already been spread too far and wide to be ignored.” Max paused. “Besides, yours is not the only name being disparaged in this affair.”
“Oh? Are you referring to the tarnishing of your name, Max? Because I think you will be applauded by the men at court, while I will be considered a trollop!” She turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, but she heard Syngen laugh.
“She’s not even yours yet, and you are fighting like a pair of cats!” he said.
“Oh, well,” Max replied with a sigh, “it keeps me humble.”
Anna was halfway down the passage when she realized she had no idea where to go. She paused, struggling with her pride at the thought of returning to the room, when a woman appeared further along the corridor. Anna hurried over to her.
“Master Gail was to send a message that a room be prepared for me, but I’m afraid I’ve lost sight of him. Can you help me?”
Word of her arrival must have already spread through the palace, as the woman did not appear surprised. “Of course, my lady,” she said. “Follow me.” She led Anna up a stairway and into a small chamber, already freshly prepared. She was back a short while later with warm water and fresh linens. “Would you like me to take your gown?” she asked. “I can clean it and have it back by morning.” Anna glanced down at the gown she had been imprisoned in. She had not given consideration to her appearance since her capture, but the question made her realize how unkempt she must appear.
“Yes, please,” she said with relief, stripping off the offending article. “And if you can find a clean chemise somewhere, I would be most appreciative!”
The maid gave a small curtsey. “I will see what I can do, my lady,” she said, before leaving the room with the gown and closing the door firmly behind her.
Chapter 46
As soon as Anna lay down on the bed, exhaustion washed over her. She closed her eyes, and was asleep before she had time to consider the past few days.
She awoke late the following morning. Her gown had been washed, dried and pressed, and was hung over the back of a chair, but Anna could not see it for the man who occupied the seat. He smiled at her when she opened her eyes, and moving to the bed, sat down next to her.
“Good morning, my darling,” he said. “You must have been exhausted. You have been sleeping these last twelve hours.”
Anna smiled at him sleepily. “How long have you been sitting there?” she asked.
“All night. It reminded me of the times I used to watch over you. And in the morning I would brush your hair. Should I do that again?”
“I don’t have a brush with me,” Anna said.
“I can at least untangle the knots,” he said. “Sit up.”
Anna sat up and placed her back to him, shivering slightly when she felt his fingers against her scalp. “Why did you always brush my hair?” she asked.
Max laughed softly. “It was the only time you would relax in my presence. The first time you were feeling unwell, remember? And I offered to brush your hair since you seemed incapable of doing it yourself. But when I did, I could see how it soothed you. So I kept offering to do it.”
Anna smiled. “I’m sorry I snapped at you last night,” she said.
“That’s all right. I’m quite used to it,” he said, and she could hear the amusement in his tone.
They left the chamber a short while later, and Max easily led Anna through the passages and down the stairs to the wide open hall where they had met Syngen the previous evening. The white, marble steps beyond the doorway glittered in the morning sun, but it was the commotion at the bottom of the steps, where two armed men were wrestling a man down the stairs, that drew Anna’s attention. Another three guards blocked the view, and all Anna could see was legs kicking and flailing. “Let me go,” the man shouted.
Anna glanced at Max. “Is that –?”
“Frank,” he finished. He strode forward, pushing his way through the growing crowd. “Let him go,” he ordered the men.
The guards looked at Max in surprise, keeping a firm grip on Frank. “This man was storming the palace,” one of them said.
Max laughed wryly. “One man! Quite a threat against …” – he glanced around – “… five armed men!”
“He’s wearing Alfred’s colors! And is covered in blood!”
“I will vouch for him.”
The men glanced at one another. “We only follow orders from the king,” one of them finally said, but before Max could answer, someone approached from behind. The guards shifted their attention to the newcomer, and Anna glanced back to see Syngen Gail.
“Bring the man here,” he said. The guards hauled Frank up the stairs and threw him on the ground at Syngen’s feet. Syngen looked at Max. “You know him?”
“He’s the man we told you about,” he answered softly.
Syngen stared at Frank for a long moment, then looked back to the guards.
“Leave the matter with me,” he said. He turned on his heel, and flicked his hand. “Come, let’s find a more private place to talk.” Anna glanced at Max, who shrugged, then pulling Frank up by the shoulders, pushed him after Syngen. A sheen of sweat covered Frank’s forehead, and dark patches of blood stained the front of his tunic, splattered from top to bottom. Mud and blood were smeared over his face, and a bloodied dagger hung from the belt of leather tied around his waist.
“You better have a very good reason for being here,” Max said.
“Rupert’s dead,” Frank replied. Max looked at him sharply, but remained silent. He gestured for Anna to go ahead of him, and they followed Syngen into a small, windowless room. Syngen turned around to look at Frank.
“What is the meaning of this?” he said. Frank glanced at Max, who, after a speculative glance at Syngen, nodded.
“I killed Rupert,” Frank said. He ran his hand over his head, and Anna could see dried blood beneath his fingernails.
“What happened?” Anna asked softly. Frank turned to her.
“He attacked me, so I killed him.”
“And then you came here? Why?” Max said.
“Rupert’s men were after me.”
“And what of Matilda?”
“She’s safe, as far as I know.”
“I see,” Max said. He glanced at Syngen, then with a slight sigh, looked back to Frank. “Perhaps you should start at the beginning. Tell us exactly what happened.”
“Well … it happened this morning. We were just about to leave. The queen was finally ready,
and she and her ladies were mounting their horses when Rupert rode up.”
Max held up his hand. “And who was riding with her?”
“The king’s men. And Lord Giles.”
“Lord Giles?” Anna said in surprise.
“Yes. Do you know him? He walks with a limp.” Anna nodded. “He heard that the queen was leaving this morning, and insisted on accompanying us.”
“How did he hear that?” Max asked.
“His cousin is one of the king’s guard.”
“His cousin needs to have his tongue checked,” Max said wryly. “Do they know Rupert killed Alfred?”
Frank shook his head. “No. I told Tobias, but we decided that the queen’s safety was our first priority, and didn’t want the men seeking revenge. We told the king’s guards that since the king was dead, the queen needed to get back to Civitas and to her son as soon as possible. They agreed to ride with us to ensure her safety through hostile enemy lands.” Frank glanced at Syngen as he spoke.
“Good thinking,” he said with a grin.
Max nodded. “Very well. So you and Tobias were outside in the courtyard with the king’s men when Rupert arrived. What happened next?”
“Rupert wanted to know where we were going. We told him that the queen was returning home.”
“And he was happy with that?”
“No. He ordered the queen to return to the house and await his instruction.” A ghost of a smile crossed his face as he looked at Anna. “You know the queen. She will not be ordered around. She told the prince that he had no authority to order her about, and then started riding. We all turned to follow her, but I was at the back, and Rupert stopped me.”
“But she got away?” Max said. Frank turned his gaze back to him.
“I think so. He ordered his guards to give chase, but there were only three of them.”
“Very well. And then what?”
“Rupert wanted to know what had happened to Mistress Anna.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I told him that she was safely locked away. He wanted to see you for himself,” Frank said, glancing at Anna.
“What happened?”
“I took him to the room, but when he saw you weren’t there, he rounded on me with his fists. He thought I had been lax in my duties. I didn’t resist too much at first, but when he pulled out his dagger, I knew he was beyond reason. He managed to get the first swipe and drew blood on my arm.” Frank pushed up the sleeve of his tunic and showed them where the dagger had sliced through his skin above the elbow. “That’s when I drew my own knife. I knew then that I had to kill him. It was not an easy fight, but I told him I had seen him kill his brother. That’s when he made a careless mistake which left his belly exposed.”
“An advantage you made use of,” Max said.
“I did. I stabbed him in the stomach, and as the dagger ripped open his belly, I knocked him to the ground. The dagger was buried to the hilt, so I twisted it and wrenched it down to his groin. I watched him die a slow and agonizing death.” Anna felt her stomach heave, and she turned away, steadying herself against the wall. “But I was still there when his guards came looking for him,” Frank continued. “I jumped out the window to escape them.”
Anna turned around. “You jumped out the window?” she exclaimed. “You could have been hurt. Or killed!”
“I didn’t stop to think. I knew I was a dead man if the guards found me, so I jumped and ran. My horse was still in the courtyard, so I threw myself over him and spurred him to motion. And I figured this was the only place I could come where the guards could not follow me.”
Syngen snorted. “They could have tried, but they would not have gotten very far.” He gave Frank a scrutinizing look. “So you have brought our war to an end.”
Frank’s eyes narrowed as he returned the look. “Who are you, exactly?”
“Syngen Gail, advisor to King Terran.”
“And the man who kidnapped me,” Anna added. She frowned when Syngen grinned.
Frank glanced at Anna, then looked back at Syngen. He crossed his arms over his chest. “You will allow the queen to return home without hindrance.”
“Why should I do that?”
“Because I have twice been the instrument of you receiving news that helps you in your cause.”
“And this is your price?”
“Yes.”
Syngen laughed. “You do know it is a little late to start negotiating?”
“I do. But I believe your king is an honorable man who will do what is right.”
Syngen nodded thoughtfully. “Very well. I will see what I can do to persuade the king. But I can give no assurances for Alfred’s men.”
Frank looked down at the floor. “I know,” he said. “Just give them a few hours before you begin the chase.”
“I will relay your request to the king,” Syngen said. “And now, you will come with me to bring news of Rupert to the king yourself.”
“You will guarantee my safety?”
“I will. And I will also ensure your freedom to remain here, should you so choose.” Syngen turned to Max. “What about you? Do you leave?”
“We will leave immediately,” Max said. “This is no longer our affair.” He glanced at Anna as he spoke.
“But …” Anna began, before falling silent. In fact, she was quite happy to leave all this behind her. She nodded. “Yes,” she said.
Chapter 47
Anna and Max left shortly afterwards, with Max spreading his wings and turning his long neck and huge body towards the mountains, and Storbrook.
“What did Syngen mean when he said he could give no assurances about Alfred’s men?” Anna asked as she lay against Max’s neck. Max glanced back at her for a moment.
“They will be rounded up and brought back to Terranton as prisoners of war,” he said. “Those from wealthy families will be ransomed, while the rest …” Max lifted a claw. “They will be put to work.”
“But they are needed back home!”
“Those are the fortunes of war, Anna,” Max said. “Men join an army in the hopes of winning women and plunder. But there can only be one victor.”
“But some of the men were forced to join the army by their lords and landowners.”
“True.”
“But that’s not fair!”
Max snorted. “War is never fair. And Terran was invaded by Alfred without provocation. He needs labor to rebuild.”
Anna was silent for a moment. “So what was it all for?” she finally said.
“Alfred preferred the idea of Roderick on the throne rather than Terran, and was willing to gamble with the lives of his subjects to try and gain it. Such is the nature of war.”
“And Roderick?”
“Roderick is probably already aboard a ship, fleeing with the few men still loyal to him.”
“Do you think he will return?”
“He may be foolish enough to try again, but I trust that Alfred’s son and his advisors will show a little more wisdom than Alfred did when he agreed to support Roderick.”
Anna was silent until the turrets of Storbrook came into view, like sentinels against the dusky sky. Max flew around the castle once, before landing in one of the huge chambers on the top floor.
“How do you know which room to land in?” Anna said.
“This is always my chamber when I stay at Storbrook,” Max replied. “And Aaron told me to come straight here.”
“He did? When?”
Max looked at her in amusement. “Two minutes ago.”
Anna did not have time to reply. The door flew open, and Keira hurried into the room, Aaron striding in behind her. “Anna!”
Anna turned to Keira with a smile. “Home at last!” Keira said. Anna was engulfed in her sister’s warm embrace as Aaron stood behind his wife, smiling at them.
“Welcome home, Anna,” he said. “I didn’t expect to see you here so soon.”
“Alfred is dead,” Max said, “and so is Rupert.
” Aaron looked at Max in surprise.
“What happened?”
“It is a long story.”
“Does Terran know?”
Max glanced at Anna. “Your sister-in-law insisted we tell him about Alfred. We were there last night. We learned about Rupert before we left.”
“Anything else?”
“Syngen sends his regards.”
Aaron grunted. “Syngen? You spoke to him then?”
“Yes. Briefly.”
“Come,” Keira said, pulling Anna from the room, “let’s leave these men to their discussions of war. The children are longing to see you. And your chambers are exactly as you left them.” She led Anna down the stairs.
“Is Peggy still here?” Anna asked.
“She is, but Corbin, the tutor, spends most of the day with them. You will meet him tomorrow – he likes to come and go.”
Keira pushed open the door, and Anna stepped into the nursery. The children were seated at the table, a plate of sliced fruit before them, while Peggy hovered nearby. For a moment, it seemed to Anna that she had stepped back in time, but as she looked at the twins she could see that they had grown, their faces a little leaner than they were a year before. Lydia looked up from her plate, her eyes growing wide as she took in the visage of her aunt.
“Antana!” She pushed herself to her feet, then paused; but when Anna dropped to her knees and held out her arms, the little girl rushed into them. Zach looked up, then he too was scrambling over to his aunt, knocking her to the ground as she wrapped her arms around them both.
It had been dusk when Max and Anna arrived at Storbrook, and the children were soon sent to bed as the adults made their way to the parlor. The evening passed comfortably as they talked of things at Storbrook. Max had already given Aaron a brief outline of what had happened, but for now, they pushed concerns of kings and kingdoms from their minds. Anna sat with Keira, listening to her talk about her children, before asking about their parents.
“Father is fine, but Mother lingers on. She will be very happy to see you.”
Anna nodded. “I will visit her soon,” she promised.
Anna’s chambers were exactly as she left them, as Keira had said, and when she stepped into the room later that night, she breathed out a long sigh. Except for the few nights at Cameleus’s, she had not had a chamber to herself for more than a year. She buried her toes in the fur rug in front of the fire, before heading over to the bed and sitting down. Someone had been in and opened the shutters, allowing the air to flow in from three different directions. She leaned against the wall and stared out the window, remembering how many times she had gazed at this same view. Somewhere, out there, was a pair of dragons, one of whom had bound himself to her forevermore. She shrugged her gown off her shoulders and lay down on the bed, leaving the shutters open to let in the night air. There was the screech of an owl in the distance, but she had already fallen asleep.
dragon archives 04 - dance with a dragon Page 29
