Disclaimers: Please see Part 1 for disclaimers.
Twenty-one
"This is madness, Lord," Suma exclaimed, his normal professional demeanor
long fled in the wake of Azrael's response. The other servants had been dismissed,
leaving only the two of them and the Queen Mother. "He'll never allow you
near! You must know that!"
Azrael finished belting on her sword. Pausing a moment, lips tight, she turned
to the captain of her
guard. "You're correct. He'll be looking for me to come after him."
Suma watched her closely, not daring to be relieved quite yet.
Looking at Gerina, Azrael felt a dark burble of humor. The old woman was watching
her closely, much as one would a particularly volatile reptile, the scrollcase
still clutched in her hand.
A slow smile bared Azrael's teeth. She plucked the case free from its owner
and handed it to Suma. "You," she ordered, "will find the fastest
horse in the city and get this to Neito. Take all the men - it must get to my
uncle, no matter the cost."
Sputtering a moment, Suma took the scrollcase. "What of you, Lord? Who
will guard you?"
Azrael ignored him, turning to the old woman. "You," she continued,
"will get me into the palace under the guise of your guard." Her tone
brooked no argument.
Gerina opened her mouth and snapped it shut. The doting mother fought with the
still grieving widow for dominance. After long moments, she nodded once in sharp
agreement, aged eyes reflecting a hint of the steel they'd always held.
Pleased, Azrael turned to Suma. "Go!" she ordered, almost pushing
him to the door. "This is evidence of a murder committed by the King! Let
no one stand in your way!"
Duty warred with duty. "You'd best take care of yourself," Suma growled,
all semblance of the soldier replaced by the long time friend and companion.
"I haven't saved your life in many a fight to have you die now."
"I'll not be the one dying," Azrael said, taking the man's arm. "Now
get going. Let no one stop you."
"Aye, Lord," the blond said, captain once more. "I'll see you
soon." He left the room, not waiting for an answer.
Azrael listened to his footsteps until he was out of range. Turning back to
Gerina, she surprised a smirk.
"You realize you will be dead by the end of the day?" the Queen Mother
asked. "And I, as well. Either that or we'll be side by side in the dungeons
awaiting execution on charges of treason."
Shrugging, Azrael retrieved her wrist daggers. "No matter." She busied
herself with the bracers and, once all was ready, looked at her aunt. "Call
your captain. Let's get this over with."
Azrael rode beside the Queen Mother's palanquin, dressed head to toe in the
blue livery of the Queen's Guard. Though the Guard was loyal to Gerina alone,
tempting fate was not an option. Only the captain knew of the subterfuge being
conducted. A guard of similar statue was now tied and unconscious in a storage
room of Azrael's manse, wearing nothing but smallclothes and guarded by the
steward. There had been no challenge from the other Guardsmen. Azrael kept aloof
from them to avoid detection, remaining at the Queen Mother's side.
The palace gates loomed large before them and a challenge was called. Halting,
the troop waited, vigilantly protecting their liege as the captain urged his
mount forward to respond.
Guts tightening, Azrael watched the man with care, seeking any sign of duplicity.
All seemed well, however, when the soldiers were ordered into the outer bailey.
Another agonizing moment of panic, Azrael gritted her teeth as she heard Shonal's
guard overhead. A slight snarl bared her teeth, hidden beneath the helmet.
The second gate came into view, another challenge called. Here Azrael could
see that Shonal's guard had been doubled. It was good to know the depths of
her cousin's caution. Through the gate, she noted quite a bit more traffic,
even more than the night before with a palace full of revelers. As the troop
was waved through, she saw a platoon camped in the main courtyard and archers
in the palace windows where none had been before.
Pulling to a stop, the captain ordered the troops to dismount. Azrael was already
beside the Queen's palanquin, offering her arm to the old woman.
Whether real or feigned, Gerina stumbled, grasping the proffered arm tightly.
She waved off the captin with a growl. "Alois will help me to my quarters," she said, her voice rasping.
"Yes, my Queen," the captain said, lips pressed tightly together.
He bowed to Gerina and had the way cleared to the palace doors.
As they entered the palace, Azrael fought the urge to dash off in search of
Ursula. It was only mid afternoon, chances were tha the brunette was still safe.
Shonal was no doubt waiting for his cousin's arrival.
The number of guards seemed to have driven off many of the courtiers who would
normally be hanging about. The few Azrael did see barely had time to pay their
respsects to the Queen Mother before scurrying off to less restrictive climes.
Gerins's claw-like hand guided them through the atrium and into a corridor.
Every few feet guards were posted, coming to attention as they passed. Azrael
knew the way intimately though it had been a few years since her last visit.
When her father was alive her family had a suite in the royal wings. Now, however,
her ancestral home was not a welcome one.
In deference to security, there were doors instead of curtains. Two Queen's
Guards flanked one, their livery contrasting with the silver and black of Shonal's
men up and down the hall. Both bowed to the queen, one immediately opening the
door behind him.
Azrael began to step inside but her aunt paused. Eyes narrowing behind the helm,
she wondered if the old woman would raise the alarm. Frankly, she'd been surprised
at Gerina's cooperation. She should have know the queen's complacency wouldn't
last long in light of her dear son's peril.
"How are things here, Stefan?" Gerina asked the guard holding the
door.
"Well enough, Your Majesty," Stefan said. "As you can see, the
King's Guard are on alert. We've been told to keep an eye open for security
breeches. Seems he's worried his cousin will break her fealty oath."
Face heating, Azrael stifled a growl, glad of the helm covering her countenance.
That she was intending to do just that was almost anathema to her nature. Still,
there was only one choice to be had - Shonal would never have Ursula, no matter
how much honor and blood Azrael would lose.
Gerina scoffed at the guard. "Azrael break an oath? Hardly. Why would Shonal
think that?"
The guard shifted his weight, eyes glancing about as his face flushed. A moment's
thought and he decided in favor of speaking despite his obvious discomfort.
After a glance at his companion, Stefan leaned forward and lowered his voice.
"It is said that the King has baited his cousin with a woman."
"A woman?" Gerina looked appropriately shocked and Azrael's estimation
of her grew. "Is there truth in this?"
Another moment of hesitation and the second guard spoke. "Aye, Your Majesty.
I saw them bring her in. It was the same woman who was with Duchess Azrael at
the dinner last night."
Frowning, the Queen Mother considered. "Perhaps you should bring her to
me. Doyou know where she's being held?"
"She is under guard, Your Majesty," Stefan said, eyes round. "Probably
in the Queen's quarters. No one but handpicked serving maids are being allowed
inside." He shrugged. "I doubt the King would allow us to bring her."
Azrael stiffened at the information. As in her villa, the head of the house
had one set of rooms while the woman and children had another, both opening
onto a common area. Gerina had moved out of those rooms when her husband had
died, leaving the quarters available for Shonal's future wife and queen.
Sensing the tense
muscles, Gerina squeezed her neice's arm. "Thank you, Stefan. perhaps
I'll send word to Shonal. Until then, I'm not to be disturbed." She ignored
their acknowledgement of her order and entered her rooms, pulling Azrrael
with her.
When the doors closed, Gerina cast the dark woman a warning look before retrieving
a small silver bell from a nearby table. It's sweet tones caused three servants
to appear, dashing from other parts of the suite to kneel before their mistress.
"Begone, the lot of you," the queen ordered. "I wish to be alone
with my officer and then I plan on taking a nap. I don't wish to see or hear
you until after the evening meal."
As soon as they were alone, Azrael went to the windows and peered out, pulling
the gauntlets from her hands. Outside was a veranda that ran the length of the
suite and around the corner. The Queen's Garden was below and, while empty,
the walls above were populated with guards. Azrael shook her head - Shonal even
doubled the guard on the inner walls. She wondered if he thought she could fly
over them. Grunting is disapproval, she partially closed the curtains and removed
the helm.
"And now?" Gerina asked. She was still standing in the entry, hands
clasped before her. "You might be in the palace but you still can't reach
your little tart."
"Don't ever call her that again," Azrael snapped, stepping forward.
"Or what? You'll kill me?" The queen's laugh was bitter. "Seems
the way of your age, doesn't it?" She ignored Azrael's threatening posture,
hobbling past to pour a glass of wine. "What will you do, Azrael? I can't
get your precious slave from my precious son. He's only waiting for you, you
know."
Azrael grimaced, looking outside to check the guards once more. "Why did
you agree to help me?" she asked, turning back to the old woman. "You
profess such love and fear for your son. Surely you know he won't survive me."
Gerina laughed again, gleeful cackling that set her niece's teeth on edge. "Such
arrogance! Have you not noticed the guards throughout the palace? You'l never
get to the royal chambers!" The laughter caused another round of coughing.
Several moments passed before the queen was in control of her voice. "You're
the one who won't survive here."
"Perhaps not," Azrael agreed. "But I will finish what was started
today." She darkened the room by pulling the drapes flush. "Is your
wish to be tied on the bed or where you sit?"
Azrael debated the wisdom of waiting until dark or acting now. The Queen Mother
was trussed on her bed, gagged to keep her from calling the guards. At the very
least it would afford the old woman an opportunity to deny her involvement.
Shonal would expect Azrael to come to the palace as soon as she'd heard of Ursula's
abduction. Time was passing and the longer it took for a reponse from her, the
more suspicious he would become. Azrael had no doubt her cousin would send men
to her house when she didn't arrive without her slave in tow, primarily to make
cetain she knew he already had her in his possession.
She moved about the sitting room, checking windows for guard placement. Shonal
wasn't a strategist. His actions, while unscrupulous, were aimed at only one
outcome - forcing Azrael into action against him. Succeeding, his safest course
would be to have her killed or imprisoned. Arrogance, however, was Shonal's
way. He'd much rather gloat at his cousin.
The thought brought Azrael up short. Chances were good that had she marched
up to the palace, Shonal would have had her detained and brought before him
for entertainment. Azrael wagered her subterfuge was completely unneccessary.
It was too late now. The knowledge gave her an idea, however. She donned the
gauntlets and helm once more. What better way to attain Shonal's goals than
to show up at his private quarters?
After informing the Queen's Guards that Gerina was napping, Azrael marched down
the corridor. While Shonal's men eyed her with suspicion, she wasn't challenged
until she was at his door.
"Hold it, you! No one's allowed in here but the king," one of the
four guards said.
"I've a message for the king from the Queen Mother. Is he here?"
A second guard eyed her. "Why don't you take off that helmet, man, and
we'll see what the message is."
Something in his voice alerted the others. They slowly moved away from their
posts, hoping to surround the stranger. Azrael, expecting she would be discovered
by this point, stepped back and pulled her sword, grin hidden behind the helm.
"I don't think so," she said.
Her first blow was blocked by the second guard who had drawn his sword simultaneously.
As the others armed themselves, calls were heard as sounds of the battle rang
against the stone walls. The coridor wasn't large enough for all four to engage
her and, while it deterred tow of them, one was able to slip close. Azrael grunted
as a blade slipped past her defenses and thumped hard against her breastplate.
In response, Azrael parried anothe attack with her sword and kicked out at her
second attacker. There was a satisfying crunch and a cry of pain as his knee
broke, the guard falling away from the fight.
Booted feet pounded closer and Azrael knew staying in the corridor would mean
her death. There were too many of them; they would eventually wear her down.
Before another could replace her downed attacker, she laid several sharp blows
against her first opponent and pushed across the hall.
The move startled the man. He received a dagger to the ribs and a fell back,
his two companions taking his place. Azrael could see more closing in as she
defended herself. Hoping that Shonal wasn't paranoid enough to have guards inside,
she managed to wrestle the latch open.
Another series of blows were traded, sweat dripping into Azrael's eyes as she
cursed the ill fitting helmet. She surged forward, gifting one guard with a
mortal wound to his thoat and pushing another back. As blood sprayed over her,
she dived into the king's quarters, slamming and bolting the door behind her.
The door held firm, shaking under the onslaught of the guards. Azrael took a
deep breath and removed her helmet. Turning, she froze, two crossbow bolts inches
away from her neck.
"How good of you to join us, Azrael." Shonal sat in his study, three
more guards at attention behind him. "Ursula and I were beginning to despair."
Azrael watched as her cousin idly stroked the brunette's hair. Ursula knelt
between his legs, amber eyes wide, the pulse in her throat jumping against the
edge of the knife held there.
"Now we can begin the festivities."