Mercy's Prince (32 page)

“I
recommend you put every village on the alert and have your army ready to
mobilize quickly if necessary. If the Horde attacked one village, what will
prevent them from attacking others? As I’m sure you know, the Brethren village
was guarded by a wooden palisade. Not all the villages in your jurisdiction are
so well protected.”

“If
only Caelis were still here, he could help us.” Lord Reed stood and Valerian
stood also.

“I
beg your pardon?” Beside him, Kieran came awake.

“My
nephew,” said Lord Reed. “Sir Caelis. I believe you know him?”

“Yes,
we are acquainted.” This news was troubling. “What was Caelis doing here?”

“Oh,
he comes every year for winter feast, since he has no other family.”

“Did
he come alone?”

“No,
he had some men with him. Caelis said he was on patrol, trying out a new bow
that he’d helped design.” Reed puffed out his chest and Valerian
Saw
the
pride he felt for his nephew.

“When
did he leave?”

“Early
this morning. Said he needed to return to the Keep. I suppose he will be
traveling north while you go south to the garrison.”

Valerian
nodded. Perhaps it was nothing. Perhaps it was just coincidence. But he couldn’t
help but wonder that Caelis had been less than one day’s ride from Valerian
when an attempt on his life was made.

            *         

They
endured the interminable evening meal as best they could. Kieran ate heartily,
but Merry found little she could eat among the rich dishes. Valerian picked at
his food, too distracted by the Horde as well as human murderers. Hanalah’s
voice grated on him, and Lord Reed’s asinine remarks grew tiresome. Finally,
the last course was eaten, and Valerian could graciously retire. He stood, and
Lord Reed pushed himself to his feet, alarmed.

“Is
anything the matter, Your Highness?”

“No,
Lord Reed. You serve an excellent table, but my companions and I must get some
sleep in your comfortable beds. It will be many weeks before we sleep in a real
bed again.”

“What
will you be sleeping on, Your Highness?” Hanalah smirked.

“Most
of the time, on the ground, but at the garrisons we do have cots, at least.” He
forced a smile.

“On
the ground?” Her eyes widened and she fluttered her hand over her heart. “Like a
common soldier?”

“Lady
Hanalah,” Valerian said more coldly than he intended, “I will not sleep more
comfortably than my soldiers when we are in the field.”

“An
interesting concept, Your Highness.” Lord Reed looked genuinely puzzled.

“Yes,
and now we must bid you a good night. Come, Kieran, let us escort Merry to her
room.” Valerian ignored the look on Hanalah’s face.

When
they reached the hallway, he turned to Merry and spoke quietly.

“Are
you going to be all right sleeping alone?”

Lady
Hanalah does not like me, but there is nothing to fear
.

“In
case you need us, I want to show you where our room is so you can find us.” He
led Merry up the stairs and soon realized his door was down the same hall from
hers. “I feel more at ease knowing that.” He squeezed her hand. “Try to get
some sleep, and we’ll leave early.”

When
she closed the door, Valerian wished there were some way he could properly have
her sleep closer to him. Even though he’d
Seen
no sinister intent in
Reed’s thoughts, he still did not want Merry out of his sight. Not when there
might be others lurking with murder on their minds.

            *         

That
night Valerian had troubling dreams of dragons and the Horde and human
assassins. But then Merry came to him, her beautiful hair flowing unbound. She
kissed him hungrily, and he responded.

Then
he woke up and someone
was
kissing him. He pulled away and saw that
Hanalah had climbed into the canopied bed wearing only a flimsy nightgown.

“Hanalah,
what are you doing?”

“Shh,
we don’t want to wake your squire.” She leaned closer to him.

Valerian
kicked back the covers and scrambled to get away from her.

“You
should not be in here. I must ask you to leave at once.”

She
grabbed the sleeve of his nightshirt as he slid down from the high bed.

“But
I want you to love me. I want you to know what we can have all the time when
you marry me. Don’t you find me desirable?” She scooted closer and her gown
slipped, revealing her bare shoulder.

Valerian
jerked his sleeve out of her hand. The fabric ripped.

“Hanalah,”
he said coldly. “You must leave now. This is not the behavior of a lady, and
certainly not that of a future princess.”

She
pouted, crossing her arms across her breasts.

“How
can you send me away?”

“Very
easily. Kieran!”

The
squire leaped up from his cot against the far wall.

“Yes,
Sire?” He walked toward the bed, rubbing his eyes.

“I
need your help to remove an unwanted visitor.”

When
Kieran saw who was in Valerian’s bed, his eyes widened. Hanalah’s narrowed to
slits.

“That
will not be necessary. I’m going.” She slid out of the bed and stormed to the
door, slamming it behind her.

“How
did she get in, Sire?”

Valerian
tightened his hands into fists to still their shaking.

“She
must have had a key. I woke up and she was already in the bed.”

“That
must have been quite a shock. Do ye think she might take out her ire on Merry?”

“I
don’t think so. She didn’t mention her. But I’m not going to be able to sleep
after this. You should sleep here, in the bed, and I’ll watch to make sure
nothing is happening down the hall.”

Kieran
climbed into the bed and fell back on the pillows.

“Ah,
I thank ye, Sire.” He closed his eyes and fell asleep almost instantly.

Valerian
pulled on his breeches and boots and strapped on his sword. He quietly opened
the door and stepped into the hall. After listening for several minutes, he
went to Merry’s room and put his ear to the door. But no sound came from there.

Still
restless, he considered bringing a chair into the hall to wait out the night. But
lurking in the halls in the middle of the night would make him an easier target
if there were someone in the castle looking for an opportunity to kill him. So
he went back to his room and locked the door. After tonight, he would make sure
Merry never again had to be left alone.

***

Caelis
glanced up from the campfire when Thrane returned. The man dismounted and
strode toward Caelis. He bowed and Caelis indicated he should walk with him
apart from the others.

“You’re
back early, Thrane.”

“Yes,
Sir Caelis, but I have news.”

“Is
our mark destroyed?”

“No,
sir. The prince, his squire, and a girl arrived at Lord Reed’s this afternoon.”

“How
could he have missed such an opportunity?” Caelis scowled.

“I
saw no sign of Swift’s man.” Thrane shrugged. “Could he have changed his mind?”

“Not
likely.” He tried to think of an alternate plan.

“Sir
Caelis, there is more.”

“Well?
Speak up, man.”

“I
discovered at Lord Reed’s that this girl is one of the Brethren who somehow
survived the ‘Horde massacre’ and has been discovered to be a royal cousin.”

“What?
Who told you that?”

“One
of Lady Hanalah’s maids overheard her mistress complaining about the Brethren
girl.”

Caelis
laughed, picturing his vain cousin’s probable reaction.

“She
would complain. Did you see the Brethren girl? Is she comely?”

“I
didn’t see her close up, but what I saw could give Lady Hanalah something to
complain about.”

“When
you say she’s a girl, how young do you mean?”

“Younger
than Lord Reed’s daughter, but not a child.”

“Marriageable
age, then?” Even if she wasn’t, she would be eventually.

“Certainly
that,” said Thrane with a lecherous grin.

A
new plan came to Caelis’ mind.

“I’ll
return. Get something to eat. I may send you out again shortly.”

Caelis
strode to his tent and pushed back the flap. Drew was not present, but the
Brethren boy sat rocking himself in the corner. Caelis sat beside him.

“Hello,
Rafael. Is anything wrong?”

“I
miss my Sissy.”

“I’m
sure you do. Did she live in the house with you?”

The
boy nodded.

“Did
you see her killed that morning?”

Rafael
shook his head and seemed reluctant to answer. At last, he swallowed.

“When
I woke up, she wasn’t there. I was going to look for her when I heard the
screaming. Was she screaming?”

“I
don’t think so.” Caelis deliberately softened his voice. “I did not see anyone
who could have been your sister outside that morning.”

“Then
what happened to her?”

“I’m
not sure. Would you like for me to find out?”

“She
might be alive?” The boy’s eyes widened.

“It’s
possible.” Caelis shrugged. “But don’t hope too much.”

“Okay,
Sir Caelis.” The boy sighed.

But
Caelis could see Rafael clinging to that hope. In this vulnerable frame of mind
Caelis could firmly attach the child to himself, and if the Brethren girl with
royal blood was his sister, Caelis would manipulate her into marrying him in
order to have access to her brother. His marrying a royal could only make his
conquest easier.

“Rafael?”
Caelis smiled at the boy.

“Yes,
sir?”

“I’m
sorry we began our friendship so awkwardly. You’re a fine young man, and you’ll
make a good knight someday.”

“Do
you really think so?”

“Oh,
yes. And to prove it to you, I’m going to ask Drew to make a special tunic for
you. Would you like to wear my lion?” Caelis opened his pack and pulled out his
red surcoat with the lion rampant of his house embroidered on the front.

“Is
that what a lion looks like?” Rafael touched the emblem. “It looks strong.”

“They
are noble beasts. Would you like to be strong and fierce as a lion?”

“Yes,
sir.” His voice was full of awe.

“Good.
Consider it done.”

“And
sir, what about my Sissy?”

“Consider
that done, too. I will not rest until I find her.” He patted the boy’s head and
left the tent.

When
he returned to Thrane, the man was just finishing a piece of roast venison. He
stood and wiped his mouth.

“Yes,
sir?”

“I
have another job for you, but you’ll need help.”

“What
is it?” Thrane’s eyes brightened.

“Take
Benton and find the prince. Bring him and the Brethren girl to me, unharmed. The
squire too, if you can. But if he’s too much trouble, kill him. We’ll continue
north on the road, but bring your prisoners by another route so no one sees
you.”

Thrane’s
smile was malicious.

“With
pleasure, Sir Caelis.”

As
soon as they were out of sight of Lord Reed’s castle, the road straightened,
and Kieran urged his horse to a canter. Merry’s horse followed without urging,
and she reveled at the wind in her face, and the movement of Stripe’s muscles
beneath her. The hooves of Valerian’s horse drummed the dirt behind her. Before
the next bend in the road, Kieran pulled up Gilly, so Merry did likewise. Valerian
walked his horse close to Stripe.

“That,
my little horsewoman, is a canter.”

I
like cantering. When do we gallop?

He
laughed and told Kieran what she said. The squire grinned at her.

“When
we get closer to the garrison, lass, ye will have a chance to gallop, never
fear.”

She
smiled at both of them. Riding Stripe was much more satisfying than sitting
behind Kieran, just holding on.

For
the next several miles, since there were other people using the road between
village and the castle, they walked the horses. Merry didn’t mind because there
were so many interesting trees lining the road. Sometimes their branches
intertwined overhead, creating a canopy that shaded them from the harsh rays of
the morning sun. Thickets grew beneath the trees, and more than once Merry
spotted winterberries that were not quite ripe.

They
stopped near midday when they spied a stream not far from the road. They let
the horses graze while they washed their faces in the stream and refilled water
flasks. Then they sat together to eat a light meal from the provisions Shannon
had packed for them.

“Do
ye think we’ll reach the garrison before nightfall, Sire?”

“I’m
not sure how far we have to go,” said Valerian. “But if not tonight, then by
midmorning tomorrow, I would guess.”

Kieran
glanced at Merry, looking sheepish.

“I’ll
be ready to go shortly, my lord. I just need to go--behind the trees.”

Merry
smiled at Kieran’s embarrassment. After he left them, she readied her carry
sack and prepared to leave. When the squire didn’t come back, she caught
Valerian’s attention.

Do
you think he’s all right?

“I
think he would call for help if he needed it.” He paused, listening. “But he
shouldn’t have needed this much time.”

Please
go and check on him.

“I
will.” Valerian followed the path Kieran had taken.

Merry
sat on a fallen tree, expecting to see the two of them at any moment. But time
passed and nothing happened. She began to worry. Why hadn’t she heard anything?

With
growing anxiety Merry stood and slung her carry sack over her shoulder. She
took a few steps toward the place where she’d last seen Valerian and Kieran.

A
tall stranger stepped out of the trees. He wore leathers and a large knife on
his belt. When he leered at Merry, his face creased from an old scar.

“Hello,
little Brethren wench. Are you looking for something?”

She
whirled and started to run, but a second man came into the clearing. He was
stockier, but not as sinister looking.

“Bring
her,” said the scarred one.

Merry
tried to run, but the riding boots slowed her down. The heavier man grabbed her
and carried her under one arm as if she were a sack of flour. She struggled in
his grasp, but his arm was as hard as a tree branch.

After
walking a short distance into the trees, the heavy-set man dropped her on the
ground. Merry scrambled to her feet and scanned her surroundings. They were in
a small clearing, but thickly clustered trees hid them from a view of the road.
When she turned, Merry gasped. Valerian had been tied between two trees by both
arms and legs. His mouth was gagged. His eyes pleaded with her, and she knew he
wanted her to run. There was no sign of Kieran.

“Don’t
think of running, girl,” said the scarred man. “If you don’t do exactly as I
say, I’ll slit the prince’s throat.”

She
pushed down the fear squeezing her chest in order to think clearly.

“Shouldn’t
we tie her up?” asked the stocky one, who seemed to be the scarred one’s
lackey.

“No.”
He raked Merry with his eyes. “She will need her hands free for what I have
planned. Benton, I am hungry. I saw squirrels in the trees.” He pointed to
Merry. “Gather wood for a fire, and remember what I said.” He pulled a
wicked-looking knife from a sheath in his boot.

Merry
glanced at Valerian again.

I
can’t leave you.
She
hoped he could
See
her from this distance. Then her eyes blurred with
tears the entire time she collected firewood and made a sizeable pile on a
patch of dirt.

“Benton
will start the fire now.”

Merry
turned, startled by the ugly man’s voice. He held the limp body of a squirrel
impaled on an arrow. With his other hand, he gripped Merry’s wrist and dragged
her to a flat rock away from the firewood. He pulled out the arrow and laid the
squirrel on the rock, unsheathed his knife, and chopped off its head. Merry
flinched.

“Clean
it,” he said.

She
froze, wondering how he meant for her to clean it. When she didn’t move, he
slit the squirrel’s belly. The entrails bulged, out and Merry recoiled. The man
grabbed her wrist again and jerked her closer.

“You
disobey me, wench, and you’ll wish you were never born. Haven’t you ever
cleaned a squirrel before?”

She
shook her head.

“First,
remove the entrails, then skin it so the meat will be ready to cook.” He handed
her his knife, but she shook her head. She opened her carry sack and took out
her own small blade.

“Very
well, but hurry it up.” He sheathed his knife and stepped back.

Swallowing
bile, Merry knelt beside the rock. She used her knife to scrape out the entrails,
gagging at the odor. But she had a difficult time removing the skin. Tears kept
blurring her vision and made it impossible to see what she was doing. At least
the poor animal could no longer feel pain.

“You’re
going to ruin a good piece of meat.” The man snatched the knife out of Merry’s
hand. “Pull up the skin while you work the blade under.”

Merry
gagged again when he pulled off the last of the pelt with the bushy tail
attached. He thrust the slippery carcass into her hands and snapped his fingers
to catch Benton’s attention.

“When
the fire’s ready, the wench will cook this for us.” He turned back to Merry. “We
don’t have time to build a spit, so impale it with a stick and hold it over the
fire.” He took a long branch and scraped the end to a point. Then he handed it
to Merry. She looked at the point and swallowed.

“What
is the matter with you?” Snarling, he grabbed her hand with the stick and
forced the point into the squirrel carcass. Merry heard a tearing sound as the
flesh was pierced, and bile rose in her throat. After the man tied the meat to
the stick with a piece of twine, Merry positioned it over the flames, trying
not to burn herself.

“Thrane,”
called Benton. “Where’s the wine? I’m thirsty.”

While
Thrane strode over to Benton, Merry calmed her thoughts so she could remember
which herbs she had in her carry sack. There was balmflower, red vein,
bloodroot, and tongues-of-fire, none of which would be of any help in this
situation. But she also had a small packet of dragon’s bane. Though Papa had
forbidden her to use it because it was so deadly, he said that a weak tea
brewed with the dried leaves made a powerful sedative. If she could find a way
to give some to these men, perhaps she and Valerian and Kieran, wherever he
was, could get away.

She
glanced up. Benton removed the stopper from a flask and took a drink. Then he
set it down nearby and strode toward the trees.

“Where
do you think you’re going?” asked the scarred one, Thrane.

“What
do you think? I’ve got to—” Benton glanced at Merry. “I’m going behind the
trees.” He turned back and went out of sight.

Thrane
laughed, but it was not a happy sound.

“You
always did have a chivalrous streak.” Abruptly his face darkened. “Not so
myself.” He walked toward Valerian. “A gentle man cannot survive the cruelty of
this world.”

Quickly,
while Thrane’s back was to her, and Benton was out of sight, Merry set down the
stick with the squirrel meat and fumbled in her carry sack for the packet of
dragon’s bane. Her hands trembled so violently she could barely open it. Then
she poured the contents into the flask, spilling some. She wiped off the
residue lest the men notice. Once she replaced the stopper, she swirled it a
few times to speed the release of the poison into the wine. Merry barely regained
her place by the fire when Benton returned and headed straight for the flask.

“You’re
a pathetic, insignificant excuse for a prince,” Thrane was saying. “A leader
must be ruthless. If you have a weakness for the suffering of others, you leave
yourself open to the enemy, who will always have a weapon against you.”

Even
from this far away, Merry could see the anger smoldering in Valerian’s eyes.

“Look
at you, completely in my power. Yet your family claims divine right to rule
over me. How can that be? I say only the strongest shall rule, and I am not
alone in believing that.”

Benton
unstopped the flask and took a long drink, wiping his mouth with the back of
his hand.

“You
talk too much.”

Thrane
turned on the other man.

“It
doesn’t matter what he hears now. He’s already dead. We just don’t get the
pleasure of killing him.”

Merry
trembled. What would she do if Thrane didn’t drink any wine? She had no other
way to overpower him, even if she had the nerve to use her knife against him. Benton,
she was thankful to note, sat across from her by the fire. He yawned before he
spoke to her.

“Don’t
you have that meat ready yet? I’m hungry.”

Merry
handed him the stick, and he prodded the squirrel meat. He unsheathed his knife
and sliced off a portion, folding it over the blade and stuffing it into his
mouth. He yawned again while chewing, and Merry was relieved his eyes appeared
unfocused.

Thrane
approached Merry. The flask lay on the ground between them. She prayed he would
drink from it.

“I
want some meat,” he said, “and I want you to serve it to me.” Beside him,
Benton took another sip from the flask. “Give me that before you drink it all.”
Thrane snatched the flask from him and took a long drink. Then he stopped it
and tossed it down to Benton without glancing at him. Merry was grateful
because Benton was fast becoming lethargic and she didn’t want Thrane to notice
and become suspicious.

“I
think, my helpless prince, that this wench means something to you, doesn’t she?”
He seized Merry’s wrist and pulled her to him. Then he grabbed both of her
arms, digging his fingers into her flesh. She flinched but did not try to get
away. If she could stall him for just a little while, the dragon’s bane would
quickly begin its work, as it had on the other man.

“Now,
at the last, you will see how a ruthless man takes what he wants.” Thrane
yawned. Then he crushed Merry against him and lowered his face to hers. This
time she did struggle to pull away. He only laughed and gripped her more
tightly. He managed to clamp his mouth onto hers. Merry’s stomach heaved.

Hoping
to unbalance him, she feigned a swoon, going limp in his arms. Thrane shifted
his grip as he bent over her. Suddenly he let go to clutch his head with both
hands. Merry fell to the ground and rolled away from him.

“My
head,” he moaned. “What spell have you cast over me, Brethren witch?” Slowly, Thrane
toppled over and lay still beside the unconscious Benton.

Merry
rushed to Valerian’s side, fumbling along the way for the knife in her carry
sack. First she pulled the gag from his mouth. He spat on the ground.

“Well
done, Merry.”

Her
hands shook so badly she feared she might cut him as she sawed through the
ropes binding his hands. His wrists were raw and bleeding, but she didn’t have
the opportunity to Heal him. Valerian took the knife from her and released his
legs.

“We
have to help Kieran. One of those animals smashed his head with a rock. I only
hope we’re not too late.” He grabbed Merry’s hand.

They
found Kieran lying beneath a tree. Blood pooled under his head. His skin was so
ashen Merry feared they
were
too late. She fell to her knees beside him
and hunted for a pulse. It was weak and very slow. She glanced up at Valerian.

He’s
still alive, but just barely
. Valerian knelt across from her, nodding for
her to proceed. Then Merry took a deep breath and begged the Most High to save
their dear friend.

She
placed her hands on Kieran’s head where the blood was slick in his curly hair. Closing
her eyes, she
saw
how the rock had crushed his skull, pushing it inward
to press against his brain. She opened herself to the Healing power to repair
the damaged bone and tissue. Even though Merry could feel herself growing
weaker, she didn’t dare let up until she was sure his brain was whole again.