by Deirdra Eden
Abhorrence and disbelief struck me. Did he really ask me to do what I thought he did?
“No,” Lucas almost shouted. “What if those barbarians catch her?”
The king shrugged. “If they catch her, Auriella will just escape using her fire. She’s been very good at starting fires lately.”
I cringed and thought about the curtains and tapestries I recently destroyed.
The king leaned forward. His lips curled into a devilish smile. “I need an assassin who can seduce the King of Scots and bring back his head in a bag.”
“I can’t.” I gasped. My whole body trembled like a fragile leaf. I stepped back and bumped into a table. “I’m not supposed to kill humans. My quarrel is with the Rebellion.” I’m sure my expression betrayed my terror at the thought of committing such a horrible act. I didn’t try to hide how I felt.
“Are you part of this kingdom or not?” King Edward snapped unmercifully.
I tightened my fists and nodded.
Edward pointed his butter-stained fingers at my face. “Then you will do what I order you to do.” Saliva spat from his mouth. His face turned red and the tendons in his neck strained under his rage.
Like a damsel in distress, I looked at Lucas, hoping he would save me. He just stood there and stared at the map in deep thought.
Edward lowered his hand. “Now, leave quickly, Lady Auriella. We will celebrate the Scottish king’s death when you return.”
Lucas and I left the room together, but I refused to hold his hand. Why hadn’t he intervened? I didn’t say anything to him until we reach the privacy of my room. “Lucas, I can’t do it. I can’t kill a human.” I crossed my arms and leaned against the balcony doors in my bedroom.
Lucas walked toward me. “You have to, Auriella. If you don’t, the king will hang you as a traitor.”
I took several deep breaths and wiped my face on my sleeve.
“Don’t cry, Auriella.” Lucas sympathetically wrapped his arms around my waist. “King Edward is right. No one will suspect you, and if you get into trouble, just use your Watcher powers to escape.”
“Lucas,” I started, searching for a way to help him understand. “Do you remember the shepherds in Oswestry?”
Lucas nodded.
“Think of the King of Neviah as the shepherd. He is good and kind and protects the sheep from the wolves. Humans are sheep and the Shadow Legionnaires are the wolves. The Shadow Legionnaires are humanity’s predators. The Shadows will try to destroy and consume everyone on this planet.
“Besides the sheep, there is another member of the flock—the sheepdogs. They are the watchers and guardians of the shepherd’s flock.”
Lucas’s eyes lit up with understanding. “So you’re part of the flock and listen to the shepherd’s commands even though you are just as dangerous as the wolves.”
“Yes,” I continued, “My duty is to protect humans and obey the King of Neviah, not the king of England.” I opened my balcony doors and stepped outside. Sunlight hit my skin and made me sparkle like an opal chandelier. “Lucas,” I breathed. “You see. I’m not human, and I don’t get involved with human wars unless the Rebellion is behind it.” I stood there, glittering in the sun to prove my point, until I remembered humans couldn’t see my beautiful, but strange, mark.
Lucas stepped away from the light. “How do you know the Rebellion isn’t behind the Scottish uprising?”
It was a good point. If London was the Legion’s next target, the rebels could already have control over the other parts of the islands. I shook my head. “It’s not my territory to protect. My job is to guard the humans in England.”
“But the king said—” Lucas started.
“I don’t take orders from sheep,” I said, referring to King Edward.
“Just go to Scotland, Auriella. Take poison, daggers, whatever weapons you need. If the Scottish king is a Shadow Lord, you can kill him without regret.” I crossed my arms as Lucas continued. “If the Scottish king is human and all is well, then return and give King Edward whatever information about their country you find. Maybe he will be pleased with the inside information and celebrate your return anyway.”
“What about Erebus?” I asked. “We can’t forget that he could invade at any moment.” I left the balcony and stepped back inside my room.
Lucas closed the doors, making the room dark. “Let me worry about him.”
“No, Lucas. You can’t fight him alone, and I’m not going to leave you when I know he is near.”
Lucas tightened his jaw and I realized I had insulted him. “I thought your little messenger friend said help was on the way.”
I dropped my shoulders. It could have been a joke for all I know. I didn’t have any details about Erebus’s invasion plans, when help would arrive, or who wrote the letter.
Lucas took my hand. “Besides, you need to get away from the castle. You and the king have had too many disagreements. Think of it as a holiday.” He smiled pleasantly.
I lowered my gaze to the floor. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to see if Erebus has control of the Scottish monarchy.”
Lucas reached into his tunic and pulled out a bottle of black liquid. “If things go bad, use this poison.”
“What?” I gasped and covered my mouth. Since when did my sweet Lucas carry poison?
Lucas chuckled. “You’re a little jumpy for an assassin.”
“Do you always carry poison these days?” I asked.
“I was saving it for something, but now I don’t need it. Don’t be afraid to use it,” he encouraged.
“If I use it,” I reminded. “I won’t hurt a human. I will only use it if the Scottish king is a Shadow Lord.”
“Of course,” Lucas said. He kissed my forehead and slid the poison into my palm. I stared at the black liquid in my trembling hand. Lucas smiled that boyish smile I cherished. All my past feelings resurfaced as I remembered our friendship and why I loved him.
“I have something for you as well.” I unfastened the ruby necklace I always wore.
Lucas’s eyes widened.
“This necklace heals your body instantly,” I explained. “If I have to leave you alone to fight the Shadow Legionnaires, I want you to have it. I can’t lose you again.”
Lucas bowed so I could wrap it around his neck and connect the clasp. He examined the jewel. “When you get back, things will be different,” he cautioned.
I raised one eyebrow. “Different how?”
His lips lifted into an easy smile as he pointed to the ring on my hand. “I will make you my queen.”
Chapter Four
The Old Inn
I looked up at the sky overhead and singled out the North Star. My people called it Kolob, our sun. My hands gripped the reins tighter as the cold night air blew through my hair. I urged my horse forward, quickening the pace. I didn’t like being in the woods at night.
The absence of Earth’s sun always made me tired. I was starting to think sunlight had something to do with my energy levels. I glanced up at the North Star again and imagined how the light of my home planet’s sun would feel like. I took a deep breath, trying to absorb the heat from across the galaxy before refocusing on the road ahead of me.
I reached into my pocket and rolled the vial of black poison between my fingers. Over the last few days of traveling toward Scotland, I decided that my new mission was that of an ambassador. After all, if I killed humans, I might as well be working for Erebus.
I yawned, then blinked away the sleepy tears from my eyes. The border lay just ahead. Hopefully, I could find someplace decent to lodge for the night. I heard the Scottish barbarians slept in the dirt with pigs, that they fought naked in battle, and that they ate human flesh. I bit my lip. My heart raced faster as all the “what ifs” and rumours flooded my mind. I had to stop worrying before I convinced myself to turn back.
I pulled the hood of my cloak tighter around my face and watched the border draw near. The Scottish landscape didn’t look any different than the
scenery in England.
Although I didn’t agree with assassination, I could see why Edward wanted to combine all the Britannia isles under one rule. If the Scots and Irish joined with the English, all the countries would be much stronger. It would be easier to protect the isles from invading armies, including the Shadow Legion.
My horse crossed the border. A frigid gust of wind hit me and tossed the hood of my cloak back. The mare shifted her weight and jumped from the sudden gale.
I pulled on the reins. “Whoa, girl.” I patted the mare to reassure her. “It’s just the wind.” I pulled the hood over my head and continued north. The road thinned with claustrophobic malice. I stayed vigilant. The narrow road was the perfect place for an ambush.
Rowan branches reached out like claws and snagged my cloak and skirt. I fought against the tree and snapped a few branches. My horse snorted in irritation. I raised my hand and made my fist into a flaming torch to see the path ahead. I didn’t usually use my powers for situations like this, but I was tired and just wanted to get out of the thicket. My paranoia was already getting the best of me as I imagined barbarians and wolves stalking me from the engulfing darkness. I urged the horse forward into a gallop. We broke through the worst of the bracken and charged into a clearing.
A bright flicker of light drew my gaze upward. Lamps blanketed a city on a hillside. “Gretna,” I whispered. I would be safe staying here tonight. The English controlled Gretna and often used this town as a meeting place to collect taxes from the Scots.
I rode into the city, stopped at the first inn on the main road, and found an empty stall for my horse in the stable.
The horse nibbled on grain while I removed the saddle and hung it next to several other traditional English saddles. I smiled to myself. What a relief. Some of my fellow countrymen were here. If the Scots were as barbaric as everyone said they were, at least I would have reinforcements.
I entered the inn and pulled back the hood of my cloak. A fire danced in a pit and provided the only source of light in the dim room. A few men sat at the corner tables and leaned over mugs of foamy drinks. The stench of body odour, mildew, pipe smoke, and freshly baked bread hit my nose in an odiferous cocktail that made my stomach turn.
I strode toward the main counter where the innkeeper wiped a mug clean and set it on a shelf. I reached for my purse and pulled out a coin. “I need one bed for the night.”
The bristly bearded innkeeper leaned forward and asked, “Are you travelin’ alone, lass?” His Scottish accent came out thick, reminding me that I was mingling with the enemy.
I pulled three more shiny coins from my purse. The metal chimed against the counter. “These are for my three brothers. They will arrive any moment.” I wasn’t a good liar, but I hoped the other people in the room had heard my announcement and taken it seriously.
The room was silent as the men sipped their drinks and nibbled on the ends of their smoking pipes. One man’s gaze darted away from mine when we made eye contact.
The innkeeper examined the coins as I held my breath, hoping he would accept the foreign money. It felt like everyone in the room watched me. The innkeeper took the coins, and then pointed up the stairs. “Third room on the right.”
“Thank you,” I whispered and headed toward the staircase.
Three men struggled at the top of the stairs. Two of them wore official English tunics that marked them as soldiers from my country. They snatched a young Scotsman and hurled him down the creaking staircase.
I dodged out of the way as the young man scrambled to his feet and raced for the exit.
The two English soldiers bounded down the stairs after him. A few men jumped up from the tables to help. I stood out of the way, completely confused by what was happening and why the soldiers were after the Scotsman.
The whole inn vibrated as the door slammed open. Several mugs fell from the shelves. The cups shattered and sparkling glass sprayed across the floor. Cold night air whirled around the room, removing what little heat the fire had made.
Lightning flashed and backlit a massive soldier. He stood like an ominous figure blocking the exit. The other men in the room stepped back, but still held weapons ready.
The soldiers surrounded the young Scotsman, slammed him against a table and held him down.
The massive soldier pulled out a sword and raised it above the young man’s neck to kill him executioner style.
The Scottish men in the tavern came forward to save their own. It wasn’t hard to see this would quickly turn into a blood bath.
“Stop!” I pushed them back and pulled the Scotsman off the table. No matter his crime, he deserved to be tried before the court and not beheaded on a tavern table. I turned to the soldiers and shouted, “What are you doing?” I couldn’t believe the poor behaviour of my own countrymen. I put my hands on my hips and waited for an answer. If King Edward truly wanted to unite our countries and avoid war, this was not the way to do it. This was an act of pure terror for all the witnesses—and the person who would have to clean up after the execution. “What was the crime worthy of beheading?” I asked.
One of the soldiers laughed and sized me up and down. “This Scottish scum tripped me.”
“He tripped you?” I raised an eyebrow in disbelief and disgust. “So you’re going to kill him?”
“He was defiant,” another soldier justified.
“King Edward sent me here. We are to make peace with the Scottish and unite our countries, not terrorize them.” I motioned toward the door and stood between the soldiers and the Scotsman, allowing him to escape.
“Why would King Edward send you?” The massive soldier scowled at me and his nostrils flared.
I wasn’t going to let them intimidate me. “I am England’s Watcher and outrank you thugs by several degrees. I intend to speak with your captain in the morning regarding your outrageous behaviour.”
“Watcher?” He growled. “That means you’re Neviahan.” His eyes flashed with fury. He yanked me toward him, whirled me around, and locked his arm across my throat. With my back against his chest, I tried to pry his forearm off me. His arm was as powerful as a python squeezing my neck as he flexed. My nails dug into his thick skin. His hot breath puffed over me. He sniffed my hair as if taking in my scent. The solider snarled as his lips flailed upward.
My fingers burned red hot with desperation. His flesh sizzled under my flaming Neviahan touch before he released me.
The massive solider licked the burns on his skin where I had branded his forearm in the shape of my hands. He lunged toward me again, sniffing the air, and then bared his teeth in a wide grin.
My heart pounded inside my chest. I reached for my sword.
“My lady,” the innkeeper called loud enough for them to hear. “Your brothers are just up the stairs waiting for you. You better hurry or they’ll worry for you, lass.”
With weapons raised, several of the Scots were ready to come to my aid.
The soldiers must have realized they were outnumbered. They let down their aggressive stance and parted for me as if calling a temporary truce. I turned back and nodded my thanks to the innkeeper.
It seemed that the real barbarians in Scotland were my own countrymen. Edward would hear about this.
The fragile staircase creaked under my feet as I ascended. The shrill moan of decaying wood made me painfully self-conscious of my every move.
I walked down the hallway and found my assigned room. The ceiling was so low the only place I could stand erect was in the center where the roof pitched. There was no lock on the door to keep out intruders. I pressed my fingers against my temples in distress. This wasn’t good. I had to somehow barricade the door if I wanted any security. I slid the bed across the room and hoped the adjustment in weight on the decrepit floor wouldn’t make the bed fall through the brittle wood.
Once the bed was in place, I slowly sat down, listening to the cracks and creeks of a potential cave in. The hard mattress was about as comfortable as sleeping on the
floor. No amount of yearning or sulking was going to make this situation better, and any thoughts of my plush bed in London would only depress me.
I kicked off my boots and unstrapped the scabbard and sword from my hips before lying down. I forced a smile on my face. “See, isn’t this much better than sleeping in the dirt with pigs?”
This diplomatic mission was going to be harder than I thought. I had to be prepared for anything and couldn’t trust anyone. Hopefully, the prejudice between the Scottish and the English wouldn’t hinder me from meeting with the Scottish king. Besides, I was a lady and he was sure to be a gentleman and treat me honorably.
A tap came on my door. My heart skipped a beat, and I shot out of bed. The rapping grew louder and more insistent until the door shook under the beating. I pulled my sword close. Something was wrong. I slid the bed about an inch away from the door and held the sword ready at my side. I cracked open the door and peered out.
The young Scotsman I’d saved stood outside and looked up and down the hall. His hands balled into fists so tight the tendons in his forearms strained.
“May I help you?” I asked cautiously.
“You must get out o’ here.” His voice shook. “They’re comin’.”
I narrowed my eyes and gripped the edge of the door. “Who’s coming?”
“The soldiers. I saw them in the woods. They’re not men. They be Moddey Dhoo.”
“Moddey Dhoo?” I asked. “What is Moddey Dhoo?”
The young man leaned forward and whispered, “Shadow Wolf.”
As soon as I heard the name, my head whirled with dizziness. Fear gripped my stomach and my mouth went painfully dry. Shadow Lords I could handle with ease, but the Shadow Wolves paralyzed me with terror. Memories I had tried to forget flooded my mind. I was only thirteen and knew nothing of Neviah or the Shadow Legion when I was first attacked. My leg had been mangled by Erebus’s alpha wolf. It was a year before I could walk properly again. I reached up and touched the faint scar across my temple. I would never forget the mind breaking horror when they had started to eat me alive.
“There’s a whole pack of Shadow Wolves coming for you, lass. You must leave now,” the Scotsman urged.
