The Eternal Darkness (24 page)

If they were adopted sons, he was not sure how he would define Keria. 
Maybe a niece?
  He thought she was intelligent, as well as serious about her duties.  Of course, dealing with her presented a few challenges.  She was queen now, after all, so he was dutifully respectful whenever they met.  However, when they were alone, she asked him to call her by her name and for his honest advice as well.  Once he had grown comfortable with the situation, he had obliged.  Fortunately, none of his advice had gone awry. 
At least not yet, but you never know when the nobles are involved.

Ahead in the darkness, illuminated by a couple of watch torches, he saw two of the older boys that had volunteered for the Watch leaning against a building and talking.  Frowning, he approached them.  Neither noticed his approach until Maxis let out a sharp bark.  The boys spun, fumbling for their swords, surprise on their faces.  That look turned to one of chagrin, once they realized who it was.  They went to attention and saluted when Norlan stopped.

“Are you two not supposed to be patrolling this section?” Norlan said firmly, grounding his maul.  “I don’t recall Captain Jansen indicating that lounging about was part of a proper patrol.”

“We were just taking a break, Commander,” the taller of the two boys said nervously.

“I believe that you are required to report to your section leader and ask permission before you suspend your duties,” Norlan replied.  “Is that not correct?”

“Yes, Commander,” they said in unison.

“You both volunteered to join the Watch,” he said, his voice hard.  “I assume that meant that you wanted to perform these duties, did you not?”  The boys nodded quickly.  “This is serious business.  Our soldiers are likely fighting the demons and their followers as we speak.  We owe it to them to keep their families safe.  Do not let me catch you slacking in your duties again.”

“Yes, Commander,” they said together.

“Move along,” he said brusquely.  He returned their hasty salutes and watched as they continued on.  Shaking his head, he resumed his walk.

He had often dealt with boys and young men as apprentices, so he was used to the occasional wandering attention and their attempts to avoid work.  While he had always tried to be firm, but patient, with his apprentices, he would not tolerate those bad behaviors in the Watch.  He knew how quickly things could turn dangerous.  With the army and Royal Guard gone, they would have to secure the city if the need arose.

As his second, he had entrusted Jansen with the training and military oversight of the City Watch. He knew that Jansen set high standards and expected them to be met.  However, he was the one appointed by the queen as its commander and was ultimately responsible to ensure that the Watch was ready.

Turning along a side street, he headed to a cluster of inns and shops in the River Quarter.  Every morning he visited different sections of the city, inspecting the assigned units of the Watch.  He also did this to be available to the people, to hear their questions and concerns.  Dominic had once told him that sometimes a commander’s duty was simply to be seen.  That way the people knew that someone was in charge.

Knowing that he was a blacksmith and a commoner like themselves seemed to embolden the everyday people to speak with him.  He made a list of their concerns with the promise that he would pass them along to the queen.  Keria had told him that she wanted to know what the mood of the people was, as well as address any problems quickly, so he took this part of his day seriously.

There were several merchants already up and readying their stores for business.  He went over and spoke with them for a while, checking on the performance of the Watch in the area and if they had any needs.  The sun had risen by the time they were done.

After noting their issues, he continued on towards the city walls.  He climbed up to see how the Watch was deployed along the wall.  He found elderly men and young boys keeping watch, holding long bows, with barrels of arrows positioned nearby.  The men were mostly veterans, as well as a few that had been hunters, so they knew the proper use of their bows.  Jansen had assigned the veterans to take turns leading the training of the boys.

Speaking to the section leaders as he passed, he slowly made his way to the East Gate.  Here, there were more archers in the reinforced wall above the gate itself, while a platoon of Watch members manned the gate below, which had opened for the day.  He observed the men as they inspected the wagons and people as they came and went.  Satisfied that things were in hand, he headed back towards the palace.

He made a final stop at the dungeons.  He did not like the dungeons, as they held memories he would rather forget, but they were also part of his responsibilities.  He left Maxis tied up out front and went down.  He spoke with the guards for a bit and made sure that the few prisoners were being treated correctly, checking their cells himself, and then departed.

Glancing up at the sky and seeing that it was near mid-day, he knew it was getting close to time to head back to the house.  He would have a meal, and then escort Cherise to the palace to do her lady-in-waiting duties.  After that, it would be additional inspections and his normal rounds with Jansen until dark.  He would then escort Cherise back home.

Sighing, he gave Maxis a pat on the head and started towards home.

…

Checking the surrounding area to make sure no one was around, the demons’ spy reached under the small rock and found a note and a small bag of gold coins.  This spot, where he received his instructions and left his messages, was just inside the woods that lined the hills to the west of the city.  He hated having to ride so far, but it had been made clear to him that failure to keep his association secret would have dire consequences.

As he pocketed the gold and began to unroll the message, he recalled the first time he had been approached to gather information.  A white-haired merchant had been interested in what the king and nobles were discussing in the palace, claiming that he wanted the information to stay ahead of his competitors.  He had a heavy purse and the information did not seem that important, so the spy provided it.

After he had provided this information for several months, the merchant had told him he was leaving, but that he had found other buyers for that information, buyers that would pay handsomely.  Those buyers wished to remain anonymous, the spy was told.  He had been directed here, where he received his first instructions and payment.

It was only later that he was told who was buying the information.  That note had made it clear that his identity was known and it would be revealed that he worked for the demons, should he ever think to stop providing the information.  Knowing that he would be sent to the headsman if that occurred, he continued the arraignment.  He had a clear idea of what the demons were using the information for after they had captured the princess.  If he had any qualms, that event should have been a warning to stop, regardless of his fate.

In reality, he didn’t care.  The demons’ gold spent as well as any other and he had no deep attachment to the royal family or the nobles.  He simply wanted to live the good life and, with this gold, he could.

He looked down at the note.  There were two simple sentences. 
Kill the girl queen today.  Ten times your normal fee.

He studied the note again, and then shredded it with his knife and buried it under some nearby bushes.  He had never been asked to take such a direct hand.  He was not afraid of killing, but this would take some thought. He meant to live to see that gold.

As he climbed back on his horse, an idea started to come together.  If it worked, none would be the wiser and he could enjoy all of the pleasures that gold would buy.

…

As darkness settled over the city, Keria sat at her desk in her private office, looking over the latest reports on the city’s food stores.  While she had staff to do this, she had taken a personal interest in making sure that the city was prepared.  Losing herself in this type of work kept her mind occupied, providing a welcome break from the constant gnawing worry about Marcus.

She knew logically that, as queen, she needed to be concerned with the success of the army rather than the fate of any one soldier.  Her highest responsibility was to provide for the safety of her subjects.

But, as Keria, she could not help but think of her beloved Marcus, far from her and in peril.  Her imagination was her worse enemy in this.  Part of her concern stemmed from the fact that she had not received any reports since the army had taken the bridge.  She was left to envision what fate might have befallen Marcus and her soldiers.

Glancing up, she looked over at the portrait of Marcus hanging on the wall.  Knowing that she missed him, Cherise had drawn it for her. 
She is quite the artist
, Keria thought.  She had captured Marcus’ good looks, of course, but there was something more there, something that transcended his appearance.  As she thought about it, she could only describe it as the nobility of Marcus’ spirit.

She looked longingly at the portrait for some time, thinking of him.  It made her sad, but she could not help herself.  Finally, she shook her head, trying to refocus on her work.  She turned her head and looked over at Cherise, who was sitting nearby, working on a new painting.  “Would you please get me a cup of wine?” she asked.

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Cherise said, rising and giving her a curtsy before going over to the table where the pitcher and cups sat.

Keria smiled affectionately.  Cherise had immediately taken to the role of lady-in-waiting, enjoying dressing in fine gowns and gossiping with the other girls at court.  Probably because of Madalin and Norlan’s influence, she was the most attentive and conscientious of her ladies.

“Thank you, Cherise,” Keria said as the girl set the cup down next to her.

“It is my pleasure, Majesty,” she replied with another curtsy.  “Do you need anything else?”

“No,” Keria told her.  “Return to your painting.”

Taking a sip from her cup, Keria pulled another stack of papers from her desk.  These dealt with the costs of paying the soldiers’ families while they were deployed.  She began to shift through them when she heard an unusual noise from the short passage that led to the main hallway.  She looked up, but did not see anything out of the ordinary.  Shaking her head, she returned to her papers when she heard another sound, like a scrape of metal on stone.  This time she stood and looked. The passage was still empty, but she felt that something was not right.  She picked up the letter opener on her desk, clutching it in her hand.

“Cherise,” she said softly as she turned to look at the girl.  “I am going out to the hallway to speak with the guards.  Wait here.”

Cherise began to nod when she looked past Keria and her eyes went wide.  She let out a short, sharp scream as Keria whirled.  Standing in the passage was Lord Gilam, a bloody dagger in his hand.

…

“What do you think about a realistic test of the readiness of the men?” Jansen asked Norlan.

They were in the palace, crossing the main hall that led to the queen’s suites.  Maxis’ claws clicked against the smooth stone tiles as he walked next to Norlan.  Much to the servants’ dismay, Keria had given orders that the dog was allowed to be in the palace.

“I will leave that up to you, but I don’t see-” Norlan began when Maxis’ head suddenly came up and a low growl issued from his throat.  Before Norlan could react, Maxis charged ahead, yanking the leash from his hand.  The dog ran towards the hall that held the queen’s office.

“What is he doing?” Jansen asked, hand on his sword.

“I’m not sure, but we need to follow,” Norlan said grimly as he gripped his maul.  A tremor of fear surged through his body. 
Cherise is with the queen!

With Jansen right behind him, Norlan sprinted in the direction Maxis had gone.

…

“What is the meaning of this, Lord Gilam?” Keria demanded, pulling Cherise behind her.  “Guards!” she yelled.

“They can’t help you, Keria,” Gilam stated, showing her the bloodstained knife.  “They did not see a threat in a simple servant, so they made the mistake of letting me get close.”

“What do you want?” she asked, slowly backing away and keeping Cherise behind her.  There were no other exits from the office.

“You’re not stupid, Keria.  You know why I’m here,” he said simply.  He looked past her at Cherise. “Pity about the girl, though; I thought you were alone.”

“Then let her go,” Keria pleaded as she tried to think of some way to get out of this.  “She is an innocent.”

“So she can run and get help?” he laughed.  “I’m no more stupid than you.”

“Why?” Keria asked, trying to keep her distance.  “I have always treated you with kindness and respect.”

“Gold, of course,” he said.  “What other reason is there?”

“If it is gold you want-” she began.

“Is this where you tell me that you will give me more to let you go?” he interrupted.  “As I said, I am not stupid.  Your promise of gold would end the second you can find a guard to bury his sword in my guts.  Besides, my patrons are not the type you want to cross.”

“I don’t understand.  Your father is rich.  Why do you need gold so badly?” she asked, trying to buy some more time.

“My father,” he spat.  “You have to pry coin from his tight fingers.  He refused to give me my inheritance and forced me to demean myself by playing the servant.”  He brought the knife up.  “This is nothing personal, Keria, simply business.”

“How do you expect to get away with it?” she demanded.  “Once you are seen with those bloody clothes, you will never get to spend your ill-gotten gold.”

He smiled as he came closer.  “Not even if I had come to check if the queen needed anything and found the guards killed.  I rushed in to protect the queen, but was too late.  I tried my best to stop the bleeding, thus the blood on my clothes.”  His smile fell.  “Enough talk.  It will be quick and painless if you don’t resist.”

Keria brought up the letter opener.  Gilam shrugged at the sight.  “If that is how you want it, so be it.”  Shifting into a slight crouch, he started forward, looking competent in spite of the limp.