Kingdom Born

Chapter 26: A Plot Revealed

The pace that Merric and I were maintaining was enough to make heads turn and stare at us but the status that we carried, Merric the head of the women's quarters and I was condemned attacker of men, was enough that no one challenged us. Merric hadn't told me where we were headed but I was relieved to see some of her colour come back. Now her face was flushed red with anger. Later she might have the shaking weakness but now the energy high of danger was fuelling her fires. I was hard pressed to stay with her.

We came to an ornate set of doors with two armed guards before it. Merric just stormed between them and kicked the doors open before they had a chance to move. I was pulled along in her wake.

"I demand that you tell me everything you foresaw about today!" We were in the private quarters of Lady Sander. The dark haired woman looked up from her book and gestured for the guards to return to their posts and close the doors behind them. She had no sign of startle but it had to have been there.

Lady Sander set her book down on a nearby stand then met her daughter-in-law's blazing eye calmly, "I have told you to knock before entering, Merric."

"We were just attacked in the garden." As I was watching Lady Sander so intently I saw expression of concern jump across her face before she could mask it with indifference or calm. Merric continued, "The man who did it, said that he knew that Matthais and Karl were going to be there at noon. No one knew of that but you and I. I didn't even tell Phara."

"Was anyone hurt?" Lady Sander demanded.

"None of importance." I spoke when Merric paused for breath, "I questioned the would-be-assassin."

"Where is he now?"

"Dead."

Her eyes opened wide, "By your hand?"

I nodded slightly, "It was the Goddess's will."

"Who was his target?"

"Karl" Merric pipped up again. "The assassin had a key to the women's quarters and to your gate in the garden." Almost as an afterthought, Merric tossed the key into Lady Sander's lap.
Lady Sander picked up the key and stared at it intently, as if he could divine some more messages from it, "This is a copy of my key. I gave it to my hand maiden, Marsha, to give to Matty."

"Then she must have made a copy and given the original to Matthias and handed off the copy to the assassin." Merric returned glaring down at the dark haired woman.

Lady Sander's hands closed around the small metal piece tightly, "I had never suspected Marsha of any trickery." She cleared her throat, "She has a new lover that she never talks about..." Lady Sander rose to her feet, "I will deal with Marsha."

"No." Merric held out her hand for the key. "I am Head of the Women's Quarters. This matter is mine to deal with."

There was a silent struggle of power between these women that I would have preferred not to see. Slowly, Lady Sander opened her hand and handed the key back to Merric. Merric dropped it safely into a pocket then quietly asked. "I would appreciate your assistance though, Lady Sander."

There was a pause before Lady Sander replied but I could see a gladness in her eyes, "It's about time you showed some backbone. Call me Mother."

Merric paused for a second then smiled, "I would be honoured to call you Mother."

"I am glad. Lead the way Daughter..." Lady Sander gestured to the door willing to follow behind the younger woman who still ranked as her junior.

We came into small quarters next to Lady Margaret's. They were far less lavish than the one we just left but they were still of a higher quality than those I called my own. Marsha was a large woman compared to the wisps that I had seen floating around. She was not unhandsome but there were scowl lines etched deeply into her face. She stared at the key in Merric's hand and paled but her mouth tightened.

"I know that you gave this key to your lover. I know that he's Lord Amery Bridage. I know all I need to order your death." Merric's words were harsh and meant to cause fear. Marsha's lower lip trembled. She caught her composure briefly then lost it. Huge tears welled in her eyes and her legs crumpled neath her. She fell to the ground and began wailing like a widowed wife. Merric was unmoved by the performance. She stalked up to the fallen women. I thought for a moment that she was going to kick her but she restrained the impulse. She buried her hand in the tawny tresses of the woman and jerked her head upwards.

Merric bent until her face was inches from Marsha's, "Why did you do this?"

"Amery said...Amery said he would marry me if I would get him a key to the private gardens. I was supposed to meet him there tonight. We were going to steal away!"

"Liar! You and he plotted to assassinate young Lord Bezer and my husband. If Phara hadn't been so observant, he would have succeeded." Merric rattled the girl by the hair, "What did he promise you for this? A holding? Gold?"

"NO!" The denial was strong and true in her voice. "I didn't know any such thing!"

Merric quaked as rage filled her mind, blocking out rational questions. I took a step forward but was halted my a hand on my arm. Lady Sander shook her head negatively. "She is Captain here."

I glanced back at the scene. Merric dropped her hand away from Marsha's hair. She closed her eyes and took control of herself, "Why did you give him the key! You know that Lady Sander's gardens are forbidden to everyone except by her command?"

Marsha sat huddled on the floor, rubbing at her aching head as tears streamed down her face, "Amery said he loved me. He said that we would steal away tonight...So I made a copy and gave him the key." Marsha's eyes were wide and clear. Her fear and truth were easily read.
Lady Sander stepped forward, calmly and regretfully, "Lord Bridage is married already."

"No..." Marsha folded over and grabbed onto Merric's hem as she wailed out loud.

Merric disentangled herself and pushed Marsha away from her as if she couldn't bare to have the woman any closer. "You will be punished for breaking the sanctity of the women's quarters then you will be dismissed."

"I have no place to go!" Her tear stained face turned up to Merric for mercy.

She was unswayed. Merric stood tall and stared down at the woman. Her voice was filled with the contempt that she felt, "You should have thought of that before you made a copy of that key. You sealed your doom when you pressed metal to wax. Then stay here and wait for the guard. The penalty will lay more heavily upon you if they have to hunt you down."

"Lady Sander!" Marsha looked wildly at her mistress.

Lady Sander shook her head regretfully, "Lady Merric is the Head of the Women's Quarters, within these walls, her word is law. I will miss your services, Marsha." With that she turned and walked out of the room.

Merric brushed her hands on her skirts and followed Lady Sander out. I took one last look at the crushed woman and trailed after them. Kingdom women were not so different from those I knew at home.

We gathered together with Lord Sander, Matthais and Karl, in the small passage behind the room that lead to the Great Hall. Karl's face was blank, his eyes were hardened into stone chips and his lips were pinched into a straight thin line. He looked as if he was suffering but I could see no visible wounds on him.

"Lord Devon escaped us but we caught Bridage. He is claiming his right as a Kingdom man," Matthais looked over at me, "With your help we could kill this conspiracy immediately, before all the players have a chance to hide themselves.

"I cannot allow this....The King's Laws must be upheld." Lord Sander spoke up shaking his head regretfully, "No matter how much we detest the man, we cannot overturn the Laws. We would be little more than the animals we once were after the wars."

Lady Sander spoke up clearly. "Husband, will you walk with me," Lord Sander looked as if he were going to protest, "please."

Her entreaty was not ignored, "What happens here is not by the Laws of the Kingdom. Remember that when your conscious weighs heavily on you at night." Lord Sander turned and took his wife's arm and lead her away.

"Since no one will know but us," Matthais pulled out his short dagger, "This is a matter for kingdom men to resolve."

Merric's face clouded, "Kingdom men?"

"Merry..." Matthais spoke with a tone that was meant to sooth.

"My name is Merric, Matty and you better start using it." Her voice was harsh and filled with resolve.

"What brought this on?" Matthais's face was puzzled. His brow furrowed above his scarred flesh.

"Cousins, we have a job to do." Karl spoke up clearly, "The sooner that this is done, the better."
Matthais glanced back at his wife's stormy face and added, "If the King hears word of this, we will all hang."

"As if I didn't know that." Merric waited until he turned away then scrunched up her face and stuck out her tongue. If the King found out about the assassin at the fountain, both Merric and I would hang just for finding out the truth. She knew that as well as I.

The way to the cell that held our assassin's master was down another hidden passage. The Stronghold must be filled with them. A seemingly solid stone wall swung open at a touch to reveal a barred wooden door. Three of Lord Sander's personal guard stood outside of the cell. Matthais walked up to them, "My father is out strolling with my mother. Go and guard them." The three men looked at each other then began to move away from their position, "Leave me the key."

"I have been charged with keeping the key, Lord Sanderson. I cannot leave it." He turned unlocked the door, bowed gravely before all four of us, then they faded away into the darkness of the corridors. They knew what was about to happened.

Inside the dark cell a man knelt, with his hands bound behind him, now not so resplendent in immaculate grey. His appearance told us that he had not come willingly. His face was puffy from his resistance and his clothes were torn, bloodied and stained with the stuff of the streets he had been dragged through. Matthais walked up to him, "We have your assassin."

"I don't know what you are talking about." Even bloodied, his voice was full of bravado. Stupid.

You could feel the anger and hatred eminating out of Matthais. He slammed his fist hard into Bridage's stomach. The man started to retch. He tried to twist from Matthais's grasp but Matthais caught him by his short locks and jerked his face up toward's his, "What arrogance you have, to attack my bloodkin within my own household. Did you think that your poisoned arrows would work?"

"Assassin? I don't know what you are talking about."

Matthais drew back his leg and brought his knee hard into the prisoner's chest. Bridage groaned in agony as he rolled on the cold cobbled floor of the cell. "Your assassin confessed it was you, your co-conspirator in the women's quarters backed up his words. We know what you have tried to do." Matthais's face was growing ugly with his rage.

"Why?" I demanded, stepping forward, reaching out my hand and catching Matthais's fist. He kicked at the fallen man, spinning him over on the floor.

He bent down and dragged the man closer to his face. His blue eyes were glacial. "My fair cousin asked a question. Why?"

Bridage's voice rose above the pain he felt to a tone of righteousness that could not be ignored, "Kaleb's son wasn't worthy to be named War Thane."

"The title isn't hereditary!" Merric replied lowly.

Bridage shook his head, "War Thane Kay past the title on to Kaleb, Kay's father Kelvin was War Thane to the King. Everyone knew that Kaleb's son was to be the next in line. A boy too weak to swing a sword was going to lead the King's armies into battle? He had to be stopped before he could come into contention."

Merric took another step closer, "What do you mean?"

"We had to eliminate the problem."

Matthais pulled Bridage to his knees, "How?"

Blood poured out of Bridage's mouth, "We heard that the War Thane was sending him to the Northern Stronghold. It wasn't hard to hire a pirate ship. We told them at it was a gold ship in disguise. The money hungry thieves jumped at the chance. The only condition was that they had to kill all board. They even brought back a boy's burnt body for ransom." He looked up at Karl, "You're supposed to be dead."

Matthais rattled Bridage, "Who's you partner?"

The man clenched his teeth together and offered silence as his answer.

I spoke up, "It's Lord Devon."

The sheer anger and fear that swept through me like a storm driven wind at the arrogance of two men deciding what was right for all. So much suffering and grief over an action that wouldn't even come to pass. How could they... I paused as realization hit me, I had done the same thing. When I rode out to Red Hollow with the force of my loyal swords behind me, I had decided what was best for everyone and I had had the might to carry it out. Was I no better than this quivering man? They had the conviction that what they were doing was right. So had I. So had the soldier who had started the Fire Wars... Goddess. What have I done?

I glanced around me. Merric was staring down at the prisoner, her animated face stilled with the rage and horror of the questioning. Matthais's features were stony with determination. Karl's face was a pained as I felt. I crossed to his side and squeezed his shoulder. He leaned back towards me, needing the physical contact but unable, or unwilling to break his gaze from the man who had ordered his death.

A stiletto blade plunged in deeply to Bridage’s chest, but it was not meant to be a killing blow, he grunted in pain. Matthais calmly withdrew the red tip, "Who was to be War Thane after Karl's death?"

"Eric, Lord Edmond Mailer's bastard son!" Bridage yelled out as Matthais danced the blade red with his own life before his eyes.

"He knows of this treachery?"

Bridage sneered through his pain, "Mailer's a warrior. He knows nothing of politics."

"I never wanted to be War Thane." Karl added his voice strained with his felt aches and memories.

"We have all we need to know." Matthais pushed Bridage to his knees. "Say your sins to God when you stand before him." He took his broadsword out and prepared to bring in down on Bridage's exposed neck, "You caused all this pain and suffering. Kaleb was sending Karl to be a scholar, to eventually serve the king on his staff. Instead you condemned him to a life of slavery. You are no Kingdom man. You have no rights to claim." Matthais pronounced each word with the control of a battle weary warrior.

"You cannot do this..." Brigade's voice was a thin wail. Not much durability from a man who had orchestrated so much agony. Bridage was pushed forward so his face was overhanging the floor, "I am a Thane...I have inherited rights."

"You're nothing." Matthais swung the blade down so hard that it past through Bridage's exposed neck and embedded itself into the floor.

I turned to Karl. His face was a mask of pain and anguish. "He didn't abandon me...he didn't know anything about it. Phara, what if I lose him and I didn't tell him that I knew he didn't abandon me to the pirates?"

"Don't worry, your father is getting the best care possible." Merric returned, laying a comforting hand on Karl's forearm.

The door to the cell opened and the guard who had opened the cell for us entered and bowed toward Matthais and Karl, "My lords, the surgeon has asked me to escort you to War Thane Bezer's room." He glanced at the decapitated head and smiled.

"What happened?" Karl demanded, his voice full of concern.

"The War Thane is awake."

"I'll get to work on finding Lord Devon. Merric will you go with Phara and Karl." Matthais offered quietly. He looked over at me, "Everything will be all right."

Offering a wane smile, I hid my true feelings of dread. Karl's father would have to speak the truth, and if they wanted to uphold the laws barring a woman from bearing arms, I was guilty. The sword that brushed at Karl's hip was more than just ornamental. He was studying and I knew, he would die rather than let anyone harm me. I couldn't let him do that. His life meant so much to me. So this was the anguish and helplessness that Karl felt when ever I left him to go to the Garrison. How could he have stayed silent for so long? My feet faltered for a step but no one seemed to notice. I caught his hand and we walked toward my fate.

There was a uncommon silence in the sick room. The War Thane was pale and his features were sallow but his eyes were lively and alert. He spied me as soon as I entered the chamber but he said nothing. Maybe he thought that I hadn't told anyone what had transpired between us. Lord Sander's words belayed that impression. "You are looking fine for a man who has been attacked by such an able fighter as Captain Longsword."

The War Thane's words were low and lacking power but the force that made him what he was was present, "This is a private matter between us. No concern of the court."

Lord Sander shook his head, "You know that this is not possible, not when such an important man is struck down. The verdict is out on the case of Phara Longsword, we are awaiting your testimony."

"Does it have to be now?" Karl asked stepping forward to stand beside his father's bed. "You look so weak."

The War Thane shook the surgeon's hands away from him, "Gods, boy you sound like your mother."

"I have no idea what my mother sounded like." Karl returned evenly.

"I know that, that was a fault of mine. I thought..." The War Thane paused as he swallowed hard at the lump in his throat, "I thought that we would have had more time together once you got settled in with your uncle. Then..."

"There was another attack on Karl." The War Thane looked alarmed. Matthais walked over to the hearth and leaned his massive form against the mantle, "Don't worry, Phara and I took care of it. Actually, Phara took care of the assassin and uncovered the deeds that they did so long ago."

The War Thane twisted in his bed, centring his gaze on Matthais, "What are you talking about, boy?"

Lord Sander spoke up, "There was an attempted assassination on Karl in the women's gardens. If Phara hadn't reacted so quickly, he might be being fitted for his funeral robes right now."
"She caught the man, and questioned him." Merric added strolling over to her husband's side, sliding her arm into his.

"Lord Bridage and Lord Devon didn't want Karl as War Thane."

"But Eric Mailer has already been accepted..." The War Thane's voice was puzzled.

Matthais shook his head regretfully, "No...they never wanted Karl to even had the chance of inheriting your position. They felt that he was unworthy."

"Unworthy!" The paleness of his face transformed into a mask of flushing rage, "Who are these men who accuse my son of being unworthy of anything. He is a Bezer and a Bezer can do anything that he sets his mind to. Where are they?"

"Lord Bridage died during questioning and Lord Devon has fled from the Stronghold but we have men tracking him now. He won't get far." Matthais spoke, his voice still hinting at the anger that he unleashed in the concealed cell.

"The assassin?"

"Dead," I spoke clearly.

The War Thane's grey eyes matched me evenly. There was no emotion to be read there. "So you have returned my son to me twice."

"So it would seem."

"Karlen...you have my blessing." Karl caught his father's hand and pressed his lips to it. "Now that I'd found you, I don't want to let you go. We have so much to discuss."

Karl held onto his hand and stretched out his arm to me. I crossed to his side and let him pull me next to the War Thane, "Phara and I would love for you, when you are well enough, to have dinner with us."

Merric was almost bouncing on her feet with excitement, "What do you mean dinner? We're going to have a wedding the likes this Stronghold has ever seen! A double ceremony to welcome Karl back to his homeland and his formal marriage to Phara."

Matthais had a bemused expression on his face. He looked at my undisguised dismay and laughed, "When she gets like this you just let her go. You try and stop her and you'll get run over."

"Ahem..." Lord Sander drew all the attention back to him, "Before you start auditioning the minstrels, there is a matter that has to be taken care of. Kaleb, if you would rather wait to give your testimony, we can do it later."

"I'm fine." The surgeon opened his mouth but Kaleb's sharp glance made him snap it closed again.

In the same deep solemn tones that Lord Sander used in the court he asked, "By your oath to King Halsem, will you answer the questions I ask of you?"

"On my oath, I swear."

"Did Phara Longsword draw her sword?"

The War Thane glanced over at me, "Yes."

"Did she attack you?"

"Under duress." The War Thane admitted slowly.

"That is not what I asked you."

The War Thane started, "Mitchell..."

"On your oath," Lord Sander demanded.

"Yes."

"Did you draw your steel first?"

The War Thane paused then whispered, "No."

"Then can I assume correctly, that Longsword attacked you first. That you had to defend yourself?"

"I provoked her! I wanted to see what kind of woman my son had hooked up with."

"Answer the question. Did she attack first?"

"Yes."

Lord Sander turned toward me, his face saddened yet full of resolve, "Captain Longsword, by the letter of the Law of King Halsem the Just, this court finds you guilty of bearing arms. The penalty as imposed is death."

"NO!" Karl positioned himself in front of me, his hand on his dagger hilt. Merric stared over at us her mouth dropped open, dumbstruck. Matthais snapped to stiff attention as he stared at his father, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Four guards who had been stationed almost invisibly in the corners of the room stepped forward, their hands on the hilts of their swords.

The War Thane's voice was added to the din, "I have not charged Longsword with any crime."
Lord Sander stared back at his brother-in-law, "Kaleb, you were near death within my Stronghold's walls. That alone makes it an offense that I must investigate and charge as need be. That is my duty to the King. Karl, stand aside."

Karl shook his head, "My father's injuries were not intentional. If Phara meant to kill him, she would have."

Lord Sander was unmoved, "Matty, arrest her."

Matthais slowly, reluctantly, levered himself from the mantle. "Karl, you can appeal."

"Matthias, no." Merric grabbed onto his forearm.

Karl pulled his dagger free from it's sheath. The rasp of metal on leather echoed in the small chamber. I grabbed it from his grasp before he had a chance to use it. He twisted and looked back at me with stunned, that I had disarmed him so easily and hurt, that I had refused his protection.

"They'll kill you." His voice was tortured.

"I won't have you die for me." I returned as my own voice tightened. Matthais stepped between us. I handed the dagger to him hilt first. I turned to my host, "Lord Sander, is death the only alternative?"

"Phara..." Karl stood helpless.

Lord Sander shook his head, "The Laws are quite clear. If a woman of the Kingdom uses a weapon she must be killed, as an example."

"As I am not a Kingdom woman, you cannot hold this law to me."

Lord Sander gestured to the War Thane, "You have consent to marry Karl."

"I have not yet married him. You said yourself that we have no legal binding between us."
Karl's face broke into a happy grin

Lord Sander shook his head slowly, "Then if you are not a kingdom woman then you are a proclaimed enemy who attacked the King's War Thane within my own household. A captured enemy is dealt with harshly."

"You're going to kill her anyway! You don't have to do this." Karl turned toward Lord Sander with a pleading face, "We can be banished. We've been banished before and survived it."

It felt as if a hot dagger stabbed and burnt into my chest as I said, "Karl, you have responsibilities that you cannot leave. The House of Bezer has been separated too long."

"What are you saying? Are you leaving me?"

I stepped in close to Karl, framing his distressed face in my hands. His eyes were a morass of emotion that threatened to pull me in. "I don't belong here." I made my voice into a soothing tone, the same I used on calming jittery horses after a battle. "You're home. I've watched you, you're like a plant. In Sandshore, I picked up a broken stem and set it in water to heal and begin to grow again. You can coax and care for a cutting but it won't flower in that water. Since you've been here, you've started to bloom. The Kingdom can give you something that I can't. You belong here, Karl. Your father needs you. Your people need you more."

Karl pulled my hands away. His fingers bit into my palms. "But, I don't want to do it without you."

I shook my head, "I can't stay here."

"Marry me."

I hurt more than I thought any woman could bear it, "No."

"Sunny..."

I closed my eyes against that tender endearment. I drew him close and whispered into his ear, "Even if Lord Sander were to drop the charges to me, you know there is another reason I cannot stay." His hand rested against my still flat stomach, "If Matthais suspects that he fathered my baby, he will take it from me and all the Kingdom laws will support him. I will not give up my daughter.'

'All my life I have tried to protect what I loved. You, Kyle, Mother, Sandshore. You watched, you learned. You have a father and a Sandshore of your own to protect. You know what you have to do." I stepped away from his touch, staring intently at him to memorize his features forever in my mind. Those beautiful grey eyes...

Matthais laid his hand on my shoulder. His scarred face heavy with emotion, "Come with me."
Lord Sander's voice was heavy with regret, "Execution is to take place at dawn."

"How can you do this?" Merric screamed at Lord Sander then turned and ran from the room.

I was lead out of the chamber as the War Thane's voice argued with Lord Sander. "Don't worry Phara. We'll change my father's mind. He's just angry that we took matters into our own hands with Bridage." Matthais offered trying to give me hope for a reprieve.

"Watch Karl for me, Matthais." I asked quietly.

Matthais's returning remarks lacked liveliness, "Don't talk like that."

"Promise me that you will look out for him. Lord Devon is still loose and I had found that when someone takes interest in something, they are only acting on the thoughts that is in the majority of the people's minds. Karl may not be safe yet."

"You think there might be more attempts?"

"Until that Eric Mailer is officially presented as the new War Thane, Karl is not safe. Protect him for me."

"I will."

All efforts of uneasy conversation dropped away from us. Behind me, in that plain room, I was leaving my life behind. All I would have of him were my memories and his son...and his daughter. I would cherish what remained of my Grey Eyes for the rest of my life, which would end at dawn by the Lord of the Stronghold's command. I had seen the determination in his eyes. Kingdom or Kitchen. I was a woman and I had to be made into an example.

My escape was brilliantly laid out and executed. Sleeping potion was sent to the guards in their night meal. As soon as they had fallen over, a small veiled woman unlocked the door and threw a bundle of silks at me. A sword clanged on the cool cobble stones of the floor as I pulled the bundle apart.

"Hurry up, there isn't much time." Merric whispered as she watched the doorway. I buckled the sword belt then shook out the silk to find a long black robe with a hood. I tapped her on the shoulder to show that I was ready.

Merric lead me down more dark hidden passages within the walls of the Stronghold. Her torch flickered in the darkness, casting shadowy figures to heights way beyond our heads.

"Where are we going?" I whispered ducking low to cross into another downward sloping corridor.

Merric never paused as she picked out new paths, "There's a hidden underground river, large enough for a ships's dingy to navigate at the end of this passage. The boat will take you to a ship in the harbour that is heading back toward your homelands. I don't think it will go to Sandshore but you should be able to make it home without a lot of problems. Here, hold this a moment." Merric thrust the torch into my hands and set her tiny hands on a wooden peg. She shoved at it and a loud grating noise echoed down the passageway. "Not too many people know of it but I did some exploring on my own and found all sorts of places to get away from the nattering in the women's quarters."

Merric gestured me into the sudden opening in the crevice. She took a small candle from a knapsack she had over her shoulder, and lit it from my torch. She handed me the candle and the knapsack. "Just some food, water and wine. Just follow this passage."

I turned to continue down the flight of stairs that would bring me to that river Merric had mentioned. She caught at my shoulder.

"Thank you for saving my life in the gardens." Merric was standing there unsure about our parting. I climbed back up the stairs and caught her up in a hard embrace.

"I have never had a sister before, if this is what it's like, I'll miss it." Tears were welling in my eyes and my throat was starting to close up.

"The wedding I was planning for you would have been a sight this city would have never forgotten."

"I'm sure it would have been. Thank you." I grinned at her. She waved, grabbed the lantern and started back up into the labyrinth. I turned and hurried down the stairs. The grumbling of stone on stone sounded behind me as Merric closed the passage. The sound of running water and the bite of natural permanent cold hit me as I stepped out onto a narrow ledge overlooking the underground river. My candle illuminated the crystals in the walls and the caverns danced in my light.

"Longsword?" A low narrow boat glided up to the ledge. A blonde haired man hefted his own shielded lantern higher. I blew out my candle and jumped down into the boat. "Down under the tarp."

I pulled the fishy canvas over me as the boat began to move back out to the ocean and toward freedom. It wasn't long before I was ensconced in my own well lit cabin on a large seafaring merchant ship. Silk tunics, breeches, robes, dresses and capes by the trunk load were piled in my rooms. A familiar trunk was set by the bed. I opened it and saw all the gold that had been given to me as my reward for that raid so long ago. I toyed for a moment of having the trunk sent back to the Stronghold then sat down beside it. A baby was expensive. We...I blinked the sheen of tears away, I had given Kyle's baby things away years ago when I knew that we...I would never have another child.

"Let the ropes!" The great ship began to move. The captain had warned me to stay out of sight until we were well clear of the Stronghold but I couldn't deny myself any thing else. I pulled the long black robe over me again and climbed up to the deck.

Walking to the back of the ship, I leaned against the rail, well out of the workings of the crew and watched the torch light shimmer on the black water. High above the walls, the Stronghold proper stood, gleaming pale white in the moonlight. An every vigilant sentential of the Kingdom. Tears streamed down my face. I touched them, not even really aware that they were mine. The Goddess gave us ten good years together. That would have to be enough. It had to be.

"Goodbye." I stood and looked back until the lights vanished in the distance, then I turned and headed back into my chambers below deck.


* * *