Chapter 27:
Hamish
William paled further, taking the arrow. “… an assassin and lady of darkness?”
“One and the same.”
He stood up hastily, went to run, stopped to look at me and sat down again. The fact such a capable man’s instincts told him to run, meant he knew more than most.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELYobddLSk
“No wonder you made me vow not to harm her. A Black… does Justin know?”
“Judging from the message – I would say so.”
William massaged his temples, closing his eyes. “I didn’t know high ladies could be Black Swans.”
“She is a special case. You’re right – normally its women you would never suspect. Maids, baker wives, laundry women.”
“Why marry her to Justin? She is surely a queen chess piece.”
I shrugged, massaging my feet, “that’s above my station.”
William watched me curiously, his mind obviously moving at frantic speeds.
“…why…?” He asked thoughtfully, “if she is one… does she need you?”
I grimaced, donning my socks. “The world still belongs to men. She needs me to play the part.”
“I could easily do that,” he pointed out, “especially now that I know. Whatever secret business is required I’m sure her lady’s maid could take care of.”
I shrugged again, ignoring my twisting heart. He kept watching me, pity in those deep eyes. It was the same pity I had seen most of my life. I pulled my feet out of the water, drying and tugging my socks on.
“Her mother,” I said softly, confining in him, “when I was eight or nine, she called for me. Lady Elwood is… majestic. Beautiful, intimidating, authoritative… she is a dark goddess. She commanded me to care for Madelaine. Not serve or protect. Care. She knew I loved her little girl – even then.” I grimaced again, pulling my feet into boots, “I know she abused her position of power for Madelaine’s sake. She gave me leave to love her daughter, knowing Lanie could never reciprocate. Lady Elwood secured our bond so I would never betray them – she judged me correctly.”
“Are you not angry?” William asked softly, “I know what it is to serve as much as you.”
“No,” I replied honestly, “I understand why the lady did it. I see the pity and I acknowledge it. But I am not angry. For Westfield to feel threatened she must reciprocate it as much as she can. That is enough.”
“You walk a road I wouldn’t wish on my enemy.”
I laughed then, a true one that surprised us both. “When you have seen what I have… you marry the job. Don’t worry your pretty head Will, I will not335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfmcIFaY9f
jeopardise their marriage.” I turned an eye on him, watching him lean back, “what of you? There are many pretty women in this city.”
He sighed, lying in the grass. “There was a girl once. I married her. Elena.”
I turned to look at him, his arm flung across his eyes. The way he said her name I had heard priests utter less adoration for their craft. I could see the silver line of his vow to his master against his throat. “I lost her and so I lost myself. Left my people, my country and came here to pledge myself to someone stronger than myself. So should I ever love again I will have the strength to protect her.”
“I’m sorry.”
He moved his arm, smiling grimly at me, “it was a long time ago. But I still see her in my dreams. She wishes me to live and so I do. I do not wish for a great love story. You have too much to lose.”
“Did Westfield…”
Will frowned, shaking his head in the grass, “never. He learned of the arranged marriage when he first came into office and was content. I don’t think either of us expected he’d fall so deeply. He is under her spell completely.” He looked at me thoughtfully, sitting up, “part of me is glad for all of this.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqFK8bekqb
Because if Justin and I are sleeping monsters – better he be married to an assassin who could take us out then a quivering maid who dies uselessly. I love our city. I built a lot of it. I would rather die by the hands of an assassin then harm its occupants.”
“Spoken like a true leader,” I said, climbing to my feet. “I can promise you this. Lady Madelaine was not sent here to kill anyone. She truly is here to marry and support your master.”
William took my outstretched hand, smiling at me. It was such an open smile I was taken aback. “Well, think we could use our combined resources to deal with any further trouble?”
I shook our linked hands, “you can count on it.”
.OoO.
Hamish
I wasn’t surprised to see Lord Westfield waiting for me by the castle wall. William had returned to his own chambers, his manner lighter. I knew I had put many of his worries to bed. Tomas watched me walk up to him, his dark cloak blending into the shadows.
“You seem to win everyone over with your words.” He told me in way of greeting, stepping in my path.
“The truth can sometimes have that affect.”
He nodded absentmindedly, falling into step with me. He was technically of same rank as Lord and Lady Elwood. It felt almost blasphemous to walk beside him. To talk to him casually, to fight with him. He made authority a manner of serving, not to be served. It was disconcerting.
“I know you made a pact with William. I am grateful that Madelaine allowed you to tell him – you handled it better than I would have.”
“William is loyal to you before all else.” I replied slowly, unsure what he wanted.
“He thinks I’m a fool.” The lord laughed, “he is probably right. Because I’m going to ask something of you, something I have no right to ask.”
“My lord?”
He stopped us, turning to look at me, “stay Hamish. I have spent the past week trying to get rid of you. Jealous of you. Become one of my men.”
My mouth fell open, stepping back, “…so you can kill me?”
“For Madelaine.”
“I don’t understand, sir.”
He sighed, rubbing his neck, “I asked Madelaine if she loved you – she neither confirmed nor denied. This means she does. If I to335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcakirf7gz
send you away I would make your love martyred. You have known her a lifetime, I, mere days. I cannot win to those odds.” He frowned, his face obscured in the darkness, “things are moving in this country. Slowly, but moving. I know the king is searching for something – someone. If he requires royal blood the Elwood House has it. I want to give Madelaine as much protection as I can.” He turned his blue eyes on me, so full I had to look away. “Be that for me.”
“Lord Westfield… my service is pledged to Elwood House.” I said, looking down, unwilling to meet his eyes. Knowing the moment I335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVs4dPesZC
did I would be on my knees before him. His authority was blinding, the way a summer’s sun both warms and burns you. He had never directed it at me, always treating me as his equal. He was the perfect counterpart to Madelaine’s direct, but subtle tactics. She would not bend before him, and he… he would love her completely.
Before I could speak, he smiled, shaking his head. “Come with me.”
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Westfield335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHfyc5mdoA
The captain watched me distrustfully as I led him to my study. I knew he thought me foolish, deranged, besotted. But there was335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLGWxw79KH
cunning. I did not remember my parent’s faces. But I remembered their teachings. One was thus; use the talents and gifts of others so you have335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDxtBhuW1q
access to a world of knowledge.
Hamish stood uncomfortably in my cosy study, watching me warily. He waited for me to provide a monologue, to convince him with striking words and rewards. I offered him Madelaine’s seat, surprised that I had already deemed it so. He took a deep breath, stilling himself before sitting.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eO73OeEDw
I knew that feeling, that bracing for battle.
“I thought it wiser to speak openly, it has been a night.”
He smiled softly, folding his hands. “Indeed.”
He waited, ready to refuse me. I could see it in the way he held himself, careful not to insult me, but ready to decline. I waited a moment longer, placing my head on my folded hands.
“What do you want Captain Hamish?”
He stilled. His breathing slowed. I felt a surge of control wash over him. “No one…” he murmured, his eyes glassy, “has asked that335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡem1KYUvePK
of me.” He smiled softly, “I know Madelaine would love to ask, but her training forbids her. Lord and Lady Elwood demand obedience above all else…”
“What do you want Hamish?” I asked again, seeing before me the child soldier he was. The warrior he had become. I had other such knights, bound by family and duty they forgot how to breathe.
“I want… to be more than I am now. I want to protect Madelaine with every fibre of my being.” He looked up, but his eyes looked beyond me. “It never bothered me, knowing she would marry. I had always pictured myself beside her every step of the way.” He put his head in his hands, sighing. “Lord Westfield, leave a man to his twisted heart and be on your way.”
“Not when he is twisted into my life,” I replied dryly, amused. “I know the King sends spies – I have caught many of them. I know he hunts for many things, one of them being the leader of the Black Swans. It was this decision that led to Lord Elwood retiring from Senior War Chief. We all know the King is mad. We know he demands our men and never returns them. We know the blight is only growing.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Hamish asked, “I have heard rumours, but never much more than that.”
“Because you love Madelaine. You know what she is. The King doesn’t know – but he hunts her. I need someone by her side that I know will protect her. That I can trust.”
“What of –”
“Your heart?” I smiled slowly, “I trust Madelaine. I am not so insecure in myself or our duties. She will grow to love me. And you – when you’re ready to move on. I will stand by you.”
Hamish sighed, “you take strange risks, my Lord.”
“Some risks are worth it.”
He stood, bowing before me, “I shall consider it Lord Tomas. Thankyou for the trust you have in me.”
I shrugged, “there is no other man I could trust to put their life before her.”
Hamish turned to look at me, feelings chasing themselves across his face. “No, there isn’t.”
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**END OF PART ONE**
(If you would like more, please comment below. Yelling into the void does become tedious)
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