Chapter Seventeen

 

A pounding on the doors roused Kerrion at daybreak, and persisted no matter how much he ignored it. Unused to being woken so early, the King sat up and rubbed his eyes, glancing at his wife, who pulled the sheet over her head. He discovered that he still wore his rumpled tunic, and had fallen asleep atop the bed covers. His head pounded and his stomach rumbled sourly, the after effects of the many cups of wine it had taken to dull his anguish so he could sleep. Recalling the events of the previous day that had not allowed him to sleep until almost dawn, he climbed off the bed and padded into the adjoining room to yank the doors open. An apologetic servant prostrated himself, begging forgiveness for his intrusion into the King's privacy. Kerrion gestured for him to enter, then closed the doors and frowned at him.

"What is so important that it requires my being woken so rudely at such an ungodly time?" Kerrion demanded.

"Many apologies, Sire." The servant bowed again. "Advisor Jadar asked that you be woken. He said you would wish to know."

Kerrion walked over to the bowl and pitcher, pouring water to splash his face. "Well, spit it out, man."

"The prisoner, Sire, who was racked in the executioner's courtyard. He has escaped."

Kerrion leant on the table, surprised by the strength of the surge of relief that went through him. "So what in Damnation must I do about it? Are the guards searching for him?"

"Yes, Sire."

"Good, then tell me when he has been recaptured."

"Of course, Sire."

The servant prostrated himself and fled. Kerrion washed his face and dried it, then returned to the bedroom. Minna sat up, her eyes bloodshot with fatigue. Evidently she had spent a sleepless night, too.

"Blade has escaped. How did you do it?"

She managed a wan smile, looking relieved. "Kerra did it."

His brows knotted. "Kerra? Are you mad? You risked her life for his?"

"It had to be done, and you would not do it."

"She could have been killed!"

"We planned it well. There was no chance of that. Until she freed him, she was in no danger, since all she was doing was creeping around at night. Once she had freed him, he would protect her, or hide her. She was in no danger. I would never do that. The only danger was that she might fail, but she did not." Minna rose and slipped on her robe. "I must go and see her."

"She had better be all right."

Kerrion followed her down the corridor to Kerra's rooms, ignoring the guards' shocked expressions at his bare-footed, half-dressed condition. Kerra's bed was empty, and Minna turned to him with a frown.

"Perhaps she is still with him."

"Or perhaps she is hurt, lying in a gutter somewhere."

"Blade would not allow that. I have every confidence in his ability to keep her safe. After all, he brought her all the way here from Jashimari."

Kerrion returned to their rooms to change, and Minna summoned her maidens to help her dress. Clad in clean clothes, Kerrion went to his study and summoned Jadar. The advisor arrived promptly, and the King frowned at him.

Jadar bowed. "I am sorry to have woken you so early -"

"What happened? Was anybody hurt?"

"Yes, Sire. Two guards were slain in a corridor near the executioner's courtyard. Another two were found dead in the Jashimari assass - lord's rooms."

"That is all?"

"No, a maiden was found in the servant's quarters, injured."

Kerrion jumped up. "Where is she? I must see her at once."

"Of course, Sire. A healer is attending her. Do you wish to question her?"

The King headed for the door. "Yes."

Following Jadar's directions, Kerrion strode into a servant's room in Blade's wing of the palace, where a brown-robed healer bent over Kerra, inspecting a wound in her side. Kerrion approached the bed, relieved when she looked up at him and forced a stiff smile.

"Are you all right?"

She nodded, biting her lip. "It is not serious, Sire."

"Thank God."

The healer shot him a surprised look, then returned to his task of smearing ointment on the wound and bandaging it. Kerrion waited for him to finish, aware of Jadar standing by the door, watching them. As soon as the healer had tied the last knot, Kerrion ordered him and Jadar out, then sat on the bed beside his daughter.

"What happened?"

She sighed. "Two court guards attacked us in Blade's rooms. It was stupid to go there. We were not thinking straight. He was so weak, and his hands..." She grimaced. "He saved my life, father."

"And he left you here? I shall kill him myself."

"What was he supposed to do? He must have carried me here after I fainted, which, considering that he could barely walk, was no mean feat. He must have put this dress on me and bound the wound, too. I am sure he knew it was not serious, or he would not have left me. He knew I would be found."

"He put the dress on you?" His brows shot up. "What were you wearing, for God's sake? Why did the guards attack you?"

She looked away. "I was wearing some of his clothes. I had to, in order to get past the guards. Skirts would have hampered me, and I did not want anyone to know I was a woman. I wore a veil, too."

"I see. So the guards thought you were another assassin. That was not very clever, Kerra. Do you know where he is now?"

"No."

"Was he injured?"

She frowned. "No, I do not think so. But his hands are so weak that he can barely hold a dagger."

Kerrion grunted. "I hope he has found a good place to hide, then. The court guards will tear the palace apart looking for him."

"We must find him. He is not well."

"That will be difficult, since he is probably very good at hiding."

"Mother must send Shista. She knows his scent."

The King nodded. "That may work. I will have you moved back to your rooms." He started to rise, the paused. "How did he save you, but let you be wounded?"

"He attacked the man who tried to stab me. If he had not deflected the blow, I would be dead."

"He did not succeed though, which surprises me. I have never known Blade to fail at anything."

Kerra grimaced. "He did not have the strength to fight, yet he killed three men."

"Three? There were four."

She looked away again. "Yes. I killed one."

"You?" He recoiled. "How could you kill a man? You are just a girl!"

"Blade taught me a little -"

"Now I am really going to kill him! How dare he? You are a queen, not a damned assassin! Must he taint everything he touches?"

"I asked him to, and it saved us."

Kerrion stood up, frowning at her. "I am going to tell your mother. I will send servants with a litter to take you to your rooms."

"I can walk, father."

"I do not care. You will not, and I will hear no arguments."

Jadar waited outside, but Kerrion waved away the advisor's questions and ordered him to have Kerra moved to rooms close to the royal quarters, where she had been staying all along, unknown to the chief advisor. Even now, no one else knew who Kerra was, although the dead princes might have suspected that she was here, since Minna-Satu and Blade were. Trelath was the only one who had known, or suspected, that the assassin who had freed Minna was the Queen's Blade. He might have told Dravis, but Kerrion doubted it, for by doing so he would have had to admit his failure to keep the Elder Queen imprisoned.

Minna frowned when she learnt of her daughter's injury, and demanded to see her. Kerrion went with her to Kerra's rooms, arriving as she was carried in, and ordered the servants out as soon as they had deposited her on the bed. Kerrion paced around, fuming with impatience, while Minna spoke to Kerra and tucked her in. Minna summoned two handmaidens to tend to Kerra, and sent one to fetch a priest's robe, and her veil. Shista already knew what was wanted of her, and stood by the door, tail lashing.

The sand cat led them down the corridor to Blade's rooms, where she prowled around, sniffing the bloodstains on the floor. Returning to the corridor, she followed the scent along it to the servant's room and sniffed around again, then headed down the corridor once more. They followed her along several narrow, seldom-used passages that brought them to the back of the palace, where the barracks stood on the other side of the parade grounds.

Crossing the corner of the parade ground, Shista made her way into the stable yard, where she spent several minutes trying to find the trail amongst the horse droppings and tracks. Entering the stables, she walked along the broad aisle between the stalls, her tail twitching. The horses snorted at her scent, but she ignored them, and the startled grooms who traversed the aisle with buckets of food and water. At last, she stopped at the bottom of a ladder that led to the loft, placing a paw on the bottom rung. Kerrion nodded at Minna.

"I shall go up, you wait here."

The King turned to the nearest stable lad, who stood watching them with wide eyes, and jerked his head towards the doors. "Tell your fellows to leave, and not to return until I say so."

The boy fled, and Kerrion climbed the ladder into a vast loft filled with fragrant hay. Walking over to the nearest pile, he spoke the assassin's name, then went to the next when he received no answer. At the third and largest pile, the hay quivered and parted. Blade sat up, glanced around and sheathed a dagger.

"How did you find me?"

"Shista. Put this on." Kerrion tossed him the priest's robe.

Blade surveyed the empty loft again, then stood up, staggering, to Kerrion's surprise.

"Are you injured?"

"A little, but I had a good stretch."

"How could you let Kerra risk her life for you?"

"It was not my idea."

Kerrion glared at him. "But you went along with it."

"She insisted, and it was the only help offered to me."

"You put her in danger."

"She put herself in danger. If you had had the spine to free me, she would not have had to do it herself."

The King stepped closer. "If I had freed you, I would be the one on the gallows now."

"Not if you were smart. It is called taking a risk, Kerrion, something your wife and daughter know a lot more about than you do."

"I have taken risks!"

"Indeed? When?"

"When I saved you and Minna from the Queen's Cup."

Blade raised a brow, inspecting the robe. "What risk was that?"

"My bringing her here was very unpopular, and marrying her was even worse."

"That was not a risk, just an inconvenience."

"I hid you, and covered up Rigal's death."

"You had no choice."

Kerrion scowled, his hands clenching. "I am not going to debate it with you -"

"Good, because you are losing."

"She could have been killed!"

"Not while I was with her."

The King snorted, raking Blade with a scornful glance. "You can barely stand."

"But I can still kill." Blade donned the robe. "Do not discount me until I am dead, Cotti."

"She killed a man."

"Good for her. Shall we go?"

Kerrion grabbed Blade's arm as he turned away, but the assassin jerked free. "Do not touch me."

"I could do a lot worse to you, for what you did."

"Why do you not try? I have always had a yen to cut you down to size."

Kerrion stepped closer, forcing Blade to look up at him. "I doubt you would be able to."

"Pick on me when I am injured, why don't you? Even now, you would not stand a chance."

"Because you are a trained killer."

"Precisely."

"I could hand you back to the courts."

Blade smiled. "And I could send you to the gallows."

"You would like to, would you not?"

"Do not tempt me."

Kerrion snorted, then chuckled. "I find myself wondering why I like you, Blade. You are such a bastard."

"The feeling is not mutual."

"What have I ever done to make you hate me?"

"You were born." Blade headed for the ladder, leaving Kerrion to follow.

At the bottom of the steps, Minna stepped forward with a smile, looking concerned when she noted the assassin's drawn countenance and unhealthy pallor. Shista rubbed herself against his legs, purring, and he bent to stroke her, glancing at the Elder Queen.

"It is good to see you, My Queen."

"And you, My Lord."

Blade watched Kerrion climb down the ladder. "Your husband was trying to pick a fight with me."

"How foolish of him." She frowned at the King. "Sometimes he shows deplorable judgement."

Kerrion glared at them. "You both need your heads examined. Sending a child to do a man's work."

"She succeeded," Minna pointed out.

"And the man was not up to it," Blade added.

"She is hurt! And you have not even asked how she is."

Blade shrugged. "She is well enough. I knew she would be when I left her."

"Are you a healer now?"

"Almost. I know what wounds are fatal. There was no chance of her dying from that little nick."

"Little nick!" Kerrion exclaimed. "She was stabbed!"

"As I have been many times."

"And what would you have done if she had been dying?"

Blade frowned, glancing at Minna. "I would have summoned a healer."

"How?"

The assassin threw up his hands. "I do not know. I would have taken her to Minna. Do not plague me with questions, she was not dying."

"You left her alone."

"The place was crawling with soldiers. I knew she would be found soon enough. That is why I put the dress on her."

Minna raised a hand. "Enough. This debate serves no purpose. Kerra is all right, and Blade is safe. Our plans will be fulfilled. Let us enjoy our victory."

"It will be some time before I can work, My Queen," Blade pointed out.

"I doubt you will have to for some time. The fact that you have escaped should be sufficient to persuade the princes not to object to the new laws."

Kerrion muttered, "And Dravis is next on the list."

"I have no interest in your lists," Blade said. "Minna-Satu decides who will die, and I look forward to the day when you earn her disfavour."

"Blade!" Minna frowned at him. "That day will never come."

"A pity."

"Do not jest, My Lord, Kerrion is inclined to take you seriously."

"As he should."

She cast her husband a slight smile. "He does."

Blade chuckled. "Good. I trust you have formulated a plan to hide me during the court's search of the palace."

"I thought you should disguise yourself as a handmaiden, My Lord."

His smile vanished. "I use that disguise seldom, and only for a few time-glasses. I have pointed out the drawbacks of a prolonged attempt."

"I know you hate it, but it would only be for a short time, when the soldiers come to your room. I will put you with Kerra as one of her attendants."

"The wig is useless. I cut it to become Dravis."

"Then wear a head covering, as some women do."

"They might demand its removal."

She looked thoughtful. "Then wear the wig, it can be dressed to appear long."

He sighed. "Very well. I also require a healer, My Queen."

She glanced at Kerrion. "Is there one you trust?"

The King shook his head. "Not with this. Everyone knows that Blade has escaped, and who he is, now. He bears the marks of his torture, and it will be impossible to explain that. While Olan would not deliberately betray me, he may be forced to do so. Too many people are searching for Blade. He is a well-known fugitive."

Minna turned back the assassin. "What is your injury?"

"A sword cut from last night's fight in my rooms. It is shallow, but it needs stitches."

"I will do it," Kerrion volunteered, and Blade frowned at him.

"Are you a healer now?"

"I was trained to tend war wounds, as is every officer. I can stitch it."

"Good." Minna agreed before Blade could object. "Then let us return to the palace before the soldiers come to search here."

With the robe's hood pulled down to hide his face, Blade followed Kerrion and Minna back to the palace. He got a few curious looks from guards and servants, but no one dared to question a companion of the King. The walk was taxing, and he arrived at Kerra's rooms pale and drained from the effort of hiding his limp. The girl smiled at him, asking questions as soon as the maidens had been sent away, which he ignored, and Minna answered.

While they talked, Kerrion arranged for a cot to be installed, and the assassin sank down on it. The King brought the bag of medicine and healer's equipment he always carried with him when he was away with his troops. Sitting next to Blade, he took out a needle and thread. The assassin stripped off the robe and his jacket, then watched Kerrion, clearly disliking the Cotti King's proximity. Kerrion smiled at his discomfort, finding it oddly pleasant to help the man who hated requiring aid from him.

As Kerrion was about to push the needle through the skin beside the long gash across the assassin's ribs, Blade muttered, "I dislike pain, Kerrion."

"What do you propose to do, hold a dagger to my throat?"

"I may."

The King sighed, tying the first stitch. "You know, your endless hostility is pointless and irritating. I am on your side, remember? No matter what my father's men did to you and your family, I was not a part of it."

"You are his son, and the Cotti King."

"Most men would consider it an honour to be tended by the King. Of course, you do not, but it would be better if you were a little less rancorous about it."

Blade hissed as Kerrion pushed the needle through his skin again. "I care nothing for stupid titles, and you deserve my rancour. You would have let me die with a stake up my -"

"Let us not go into details. I did everything I could."

Blade flopped back, tensing as Kerrion pushed the needle in once more. His pallor increased and sweat sheened his brow. His eyes closed, and the King glanced at Minna, who stepped closer to touch the assassin's shoulder.

She frowned with concern. "He has fainted. He must be weak indeed."

"More so than we thought."

"Considering what he has been through, it is not surprising. He probably has not eaten for two days, either."

The King grunted, stitching the wound swiftly now that Blade could no longer feel it. When he finished, he smeared ointment on it and the wound in Blade's shoulder, then bandaged them before pronouncing himself satisfied.

"Now he needs rest, and food when he wakes."

"When will the search pass through here?"

"These rooms were searched last night, when Kerra and the dead guards were found. When they do not find him elsewhere, they will return to search more thoroughly, perhaps tomorrow."

Minna nodded, gazing at Blade. "Let us hope that he has recovered sufficiently by then."

 

Blade woke that afternoon, and the maidens plied him with hot broth and mulled wine. Minna knew that allowing the girls to tend him now was risky, since the marks of the ropes on his wrists were impossible to hide. Now that his true identity was known, it would only take a whisper of gossip to betray his presence here. For this reason, she only allowed her two most trusted maids in the rooms, who had been with her for several years. While they may still be tortured into revealing his presence, it seemed unlikely that anyone would do such a thing. She had to take the risk, in any case, in order to hide him. Minna swore the girls to silence, knowing, even as she did, that Blade's continued presence was becoming far too dangerous.

Minna urged Kerrion to stay away, not only to avoid suspicion falling upon him, should Blade be discovered, but also to prevent further arguments with the irritable assassin. In his present mood, the mere sight of the King annoyed him, and the slightest excuse brought cutting remarks that Kerrion seemed unable to ignore. The maidens washed Blade with warm wet cloths and rubbed kellis flower oil on his bruises, massaging his stiff hands with the aromatic oil while he cursed them for causing him pain.

The following day, Kerrion warned Minna that the court guards would search their rooms again in the afternoon, and she took Blade's bag of cosmetics to him, along with the wig and a handmaiden's gown. The maidens had arranged the wig into a fetching coiffure, disguising its shortness. Minna dismissed the girls, and Blade limped into the adjoining room to don the disguise, refusing her offer of aid.

When he re-emerged, the Elder Queen stared at him in amazement. The blond wig framed his narrow, sculpted face, enhancing the golden hue of his smooth skin, and the dye hid the scar on his cheek. The white gown clung to a modest bosom and slim, but womanly hips, and he walked with a girl's swaying grace. Several rings graced his fingers, and a silver necklace encircled his throat. A little kohl outlined his pale eyes, making them appear larger, and berry juice reddened his sensual lips. He met her incredulous stare with a hard glance and sank down on a couch, his every movement and gesture feminine.

The beauty of Blade's feminine disguise astonished Minna, being more profound than she had ever imagined and putting the loveliest girls to shame. The handmaidens had returned in his absence, and gazed at him in confusion, clearly perplexed as to who he was. That was why the disguise was so effective, Minna mused. Few would believe that the person who wore the wig and paint was a man. Even she found it hard to credit that the gown hid a muscular male body. No wonder he was able to lure his victims into his perfumed embrace so easily before slipping a dagger between their ribs.

Minna went over and sat on the couch beside him, searched for a flaw in his make-up and found none. No hint of his true identity remained, apart from his eyes, although his features were familiar.

"That is truly amazing, My Lord."

He smiled. "If you call me that, it will do me no good."

Minna glanced at Kerra, who studied him from the bed, her eyes wide. "I will wager that even someone who knows you would not recognise you now, and certainly not the court guards."

Blade sighed. "I keep hoping each time will be my last, but there always seems to be another demand for this damned disguise."

"It has served you well."

"But my dislike for it has never waned. I use it only when necessary." He made a graceful gesture with a be-ringed hand. "Now you know all my secrets, My Queen."

"They are safe with me, but I am certain you still have some that I will never learn."

"Perhaps."

When the soldiers arrived a time-glass later, they found a room populated entirely by women. Three handmaidens embroidered on the window seat with the King's wife, and a sick girl lay in the bed. They looked behind the curtains and rooted around in the cupboards, inspected the bathing alcove and even peered under the bed. The officer in charge gave the women a cursory glance, which lingered on Blade, who kept his head bent over the embroidery he was ruining. Suspicion was not the reason that the officer's eyes lingered, however, and when the men had searched every inch of the room, they left.

Minna relaxed with a sigh, glancing at Kerra, who had been pretending to sleep, and now opened her eyes. Blade continued to ply his needle, apparently engrossed. The maiden whose embroidery he had borrowed gave a cry of horror at the mess he had made of it and snatched it away, whereupon he looked up in surprise. One of the other girls began to giggle, and soon the group was in helpless fits of laughter, except Blade, who watched them with a smile.