Sacred Knight of the Veil (11 page)

"You have killed him. He will not wake."

Verdan hurried over, looking horrified, and Chiana shot him a meaningful look. He grasped the situation, and, with an imperceptible nod, came to Blade's side and picked up his limp hand, taking his pulse with a worried frown. Kerra turned to watch as he shook his head, placing Blade's hand on his chest once more.

"I am sorry, Regent, he is getting worse, and slipping into a deeper coma. I doubt that he will wake again."

The nearest guard sniggered. "He'll die tomorrow anyway."

"Bastards!" Kerra cried, stepping forward to slap the guard. He recoiled in surprise and raised his hand to return the blow, but stopped when Chiana rose from the bed.

"Touch the Queen, and your prince will not be able to save you, lout!"

The man glared at them and swung away, muttering some foul comment to his comrade. Chiana jerked her head at the door, and Kerra led the way back into the corridor, two guards following.

As soon as the extra guards left, Verdan bent to examine the bolt that protruded from Blade's shoulder, clicking his tongue. The heavy, barbed iron quarrel had punched right through, but that made it easier to remove, since it would have to be pulled out by the head. A glance at the guards assured him that they had lost interest, and he bent lower to whisper in Blade's ear.

"This will hurt."

Verdan dug in his bag and drew on a thick leather glove, then gripped the bolt's head and yanked it out. Blade stiffened, his face growing paler and muscles standing out in ridges on his jaw. Verdan pulled the assassin's jacket off his left arm to expose the wounds, then washed and dressed them.

In the corridor, Kerra fell into step with the Regent, still frowning. "Is he very ill?"

Remembering Blade's instructions, she nodded, brushing the tears from her cheeks. "Yes."

"Then there is no hope for me?"

"There is always hope. Perhaps a letter will arrive tonight, telling us that Kerrion has found his wife and ordering Endor to leave here."

"And if not?"

Chiana hated to deceive the girl, and was not a good liar, so she kept her response brief and vague. "You must do what is necessary to save your stepmother and avert a complete catastrophe. That is all you can do."

"But what if father is right?"

"Hush now. Do not fret."

Kerra's mouth twisted. "But Endor... is horrible! I think he will hurt me."

Chiana casting a meaningful glance back at the guards. "We must hope for the best. Perhaps he will fall in love with you."

"He frightens me."

They arrived at Chiana's private apartments, and she ushered the Queen inside. The Cotti soldiers who followed them like heavy-footed shadows were once again forced to wait outside by Chiana's guards. An odd stand-off existed between her men and Endor's, neither empowered to take action against the other without provocation or orders. Lacking either, they stood on opposite sides of the corridor; one pair making sure the Queen did not try to slip away, the other guarding her privacy, and that of the Regent.

Kerra flopped down on a cushion in Chiana's sitting room, looking despondent, and the Regent poured her a cup of wine. Enough of it on an empty stomach would calm her down and numb her to the horror of her situation, as Chiana had been tempted to do recently. The girl was unused to strong spirits, and often bewailed the fact that she was not allowed to drink un-watered wine. Now was her opportunity to find out what it was like to become roaring drunk, Chiana decided.

Chapter Seven

Chiana spent most of the day comforting the Queen, plying her with wine, sweetmeats, cakes and pastries. Kerra's questions and demands grew less heated and intelligent as the liquor took effect, and her eyes drooped. The Regent summoned a bard to strum a lute and hum soft tunes, lulling the Queen further into an inebriated stupor. Chiana sat and worried about what might be happening to Redgard and her loyal advisors, but decided to stay with the Queen, even after she passed out.

Dismissing the bard, she waited for dusk, wishing the day would pass more quickly, and with it the threat of complete disaster. By the time the sun sank in red-gold splendour outside her windows, her nerves were raw and her stomach a sour knot. The closer nightfall came, with its promise of redemption in the form of a slim black-clad killer, the more nervous she grew that Endor would appear and ruin everything. His continued absence filled her with hope that he had drunk himself under the table, and now snored on a couch somewhere.

At supper time, she roused the Queen and persuaded her eat a little food, not wanting her to be drunk when Blade came. Kerra was muddled and sleepy, but amenable. After the meal, Chiana had her maids help the Queen to her rooms, which four sacred Knights of the Veil now guarded. The maids prepared her for bed and tucked her into it, and she fell asleep right away.

Chiana dismissed the maids, then rummaged in Kerra's closet and found a dark riding habit, which she laid out at the foot of the bed before gazing at the young Queen's innocent face, imprinting it in her memory. Kerra was the most precious treasure in all of Jashimari, the last legacy of a great queen, and she was being entrusted to a cold-blooded killer. Chiana smiled at the irony of it, for who better to protect this child than a man as deadly as Blade.

Drunken shouts from the corridor jerked her from her reverie, and she kissed Kerra's cheek, then went to find out what the commotion was about. In the corridor, the four sacred Knights of the Veil, backed up by six guards, barred entry to a flushed, swaying Endor.

Quite clearly he had been indulging in the palace's extensive cellars all day, and could barely stand. The Knights, most trusted of all Jashimari warriors, wore the long white tabards of the church, emblazoned with the coiled golden serpent that represented Tinsharon's earthly form. Silver chain mail clad their torsos under their tabards, and the golden collars that were their badge of office gleamed in the torchlight.

Endor berated the tallest of the four, who stood before the Queen's doors like a statue, his eyes filled with contempt. All six of the Cotti advisors who made their home in the palace backed up the drunken prince, as well as three of his soldiers. They were in the same state of intoxication, and of little use to the Endor. The rank odour of stale sweat and sour wine arose from the little party, making Chiana wrinkle her nose in disgust. Endor prodded the Knight, whom she recognised as Sir Raylin, in the chest to make his point, although his words were almost too slurred to understand.

Sir Raylin did not dignify the Prince's argument with an answer, but blocked his way, a hand resting on his sword hilt. The Knight was in his late forties, a former veteran officer whose familiar had been killed in battle and whose wife had died shortly after the war had ended. Upon her death, he had lost interest in life and contemplated suicide. Instead, he had taken the vows and undergone castration to become a sacred Knight of the Veil, charged with the protection of church property and the virgin priestesses who dwelt within the temples. On rare occasions, the Queen could call upon the Knights to serve her when ordinary soldiers would not do. They considered themselves to be already dead; some had even been given the last rites at their own request, and were therefore fearless.

Endor grew more forceful in his insistence, pushing Sir Raylin hard enough to make him step back, and the other three Knights fingered their weapons. Not wishing more bloodshed, Chiana stepped out of the shadows and addressed the Cotti advisors who stood behind Endor in the hope that they were a little wiser than the Prince, and perhaps a little less drunk.

"My lords, you know Prince Endor cannot be allowed to see the Queen in this state. Please advise him of this."

Berlon, a stout, bearded Cotti with a nervous tick, looked surprised. "If he wishes to see her, Regent, he may."

"In this land, the Queen commands respect. When the people hear that a drunken Cotti prince ravished her, how do you think they will react?" Chiana frowned at him. "Why are you here? Do you all intend to stand around and watch? Are Cotti such barbarians?"

The Cotti muttered, and Endor, becoming aware of the new challenge to his authority, rounded on Chiana. "You! Jashimari slut! Order these gelded dogs out of my way before I slit their throats."

"They will all die to protect the Queen, Prince Endor, as will every Jashimari soldier in this palace. If you want a war, this may well start it. The only reason I have not ordered you thrown out is because of your threat to Kerrion's wife, but be assured, although Kerra is your hostage, you will not be allowed to ravish her."

"You defy me?" Endor drew himself up, tottered, and almost fell over, but for the steadying hand of an advisor. Shaking the man off, he staggered towards her, his face suffused with blood. Sir Raylin's armoured hand brought him up short, and he ignored it.

"I'll have you flogged, whore! You'll die beside your neutered husband tomorrow, and that stupid girl will become my concubine if I so choose!"

"Until then, you will abide by our laws, and remove yourself from the Queen's proximity."

Endor tried to push past Sir Raylin and failed, which enraged him further. He shoved the Knight, who braced himself, causing Endor to stagger back into the advisors. Berlon hissed something in the Prince's ear, but Endor shook him off.

"I'll not be ordered around by a simpering cow! Get these geldings out of my way before I have them killed!"

"You would be of no use to the Queen, even should she wish your foul attentions," Chiana stated.

Endor growled and tried to draw his sword, but it became stuck halfway out of its scabbard. His action, however, caused an instant reaction from the Knights, who drew their weapons with a hiss of steel, making the advisors stiffen. Endor eyed the Knights, tugging at his sword, then realised that he faced four naked blades and staggered back in alarm.

"You dare to threaten me?" He released the hilt of his weapon and came at Chiana, but again was barred, this time by bare steel. Endor glowered at Sir Raylin and pointed a wavering finger at him. "You'll die tomorrow, along with your cohorts, for this outrage."

"You will gain no access to the Queen, Endor," Chiana said.

"And you!" Endor swung on her. "You will entertain my troops before you die, bitch!"

Berlon and another advisor tried to tug Endor away, muttering in his ear. He shook them off, but retreated, glaring at Chiana and the Knights. Finally the Cotti advisors persuaded him to leave, and he reeled away down the corridor, shouting threats and foul insults over his shoulder. When at last he was out of sight, Chiana let out a great sigh and smiled at Sir Raylin. The Knights sheathed their weapons and bowed to her.

"Regent, you may rest assured, the Queen will be safe tonight," Sir Raylin said.

"I know. But tomorrow will be another story. Leave the palace at dawn and return to your temple. You will be safe from Endor there."

"We will die to protect the Queen, Regent."

"That will not be necessary, Sir Raylin. Rest assured, no harm will come to her."

"But Prince Endor..."

Chiana glanced at the Cotti soldiers who stood on the other side of the corridor, watching them. "We can do nothing to Prince Endor, so long as his brother holds Kerrion's wife hostage."

Sir Raylin inclined his head. "As you wish, my lady."

"Goodnight."

Chiana left as they bowed, and walked down the corridor to her rooms, where she closed the doors with a sense of relief. Another catastrophe had been averted, and she hoped that her luck would hold until the morning. Tomorrow would be another ordeal, perhaps even worse than today, but at least the Queen would be safe.

Blade opened his eyes a slit and surveyed the room. From the pale light that slanted through the window, he deduced that the moon was high and full, which was bad. It told him that it was late, however, and time to make his move. He located the two guards seated at a table on the other side of the room, engrossed in a game of cards. His ploy had worked, and they had not bothered to bind him. Now all he had to do was get them to come within his reach. His head pounded, his shoulder throbbed and his teeth ached from Endor's blow. He groaned.

The guards turned to look at him, and one made a crude comment that made the other snigger. They tried to return to their game, but Blade groaned more loudly and writhed about, distracting them. Soon the first man grew tired of his antics and told the other to silence him. The second man rose, pulling a dirty cloth from his pocket to gag the prisoner. He stopped beside the bed and leant down to peer at the assassin, frowning. Blade's fist cracked into the side of the man's head, and the guard went down as if poleaxed.

Blade crossed the room before the other man had time to draw breath to shout. The assassin's foot thudded into the Cotti's solar plexus and drove him backwards into the wall. His head cracked against it, and he slumped. Blade retrieved two of his daggers from the guard's belt, slipping one into a wrist sheath and using the other to slit the unconscious man's throat. A lizard scuttled from the Cotti's pocket and thrashed about in its death throes. Blade slit the other guard's throat, not bothering to wonder what creature would die with him, and then headed for the window.

A full Death Moon hung in the sky, an ill omen for most, but good luck for assassins. He wished it was not quite so full as he waited while a pair of sentries passed below. Easing himself over the sill, he found cracks in the stonework with deft fingers and climbed down the wall, glancing down often to assure himself that no unexpected Cotti guards patrolled below. Reaching the ground, he ducked into the nearest bushes. From their cover, he scanned the gardens, hunting for the guards who patrolled around the palace at night. When he located them, he waited until they moved away before he left the bushes and trotted along the palace wall.

Reaching a familiar stretch, Blade glanced up at the windows of the Regent's private rooms, and beside them, the Queen's. The royal rooms were two floors up, a fairly long climb. He ducked into a shadow as two guards wandered past, then moved to the wall and ascended it. The patrol patterns around the palace were well known to him, he had slipped in and out of the grounds without being seen many times. No extra guards appeared to be on duty, but he had not expected any, although he had considered the possibility that Endor might set some of his men under the Queen's window.