Essence Of The Heart (The Royal Tutor) (32 page)

          It wasn't that she didn't like Lord High Chamberlain; it was just that
the irritation at not finding Jacob was causing her tension level to rise. As
she headed through the woods, she felt to turn to the left, almost as if she
felt something drawing her to him, telling her where he was. Soon she
could see a clearing ahead and smell the smoke of a campfire. She felt a
tingling as the feeling came over her that he truly was there. She didn't
know how she knew; she just knew it was Jacob.
          She stopped breathlessly by the edge of the clearing. There, indeed,
was Jacob. The evening light shown off of his blonde hair, and she felt her
heart jump within her. He was so handsome. He was looking into the fire,
quietly, all alone, lost in his own thoughts, seemingly quite forlorn. She had
found him at last. She stood there, just enjoying watching him. She heard
sounds behind her and, fearing they were men from the Royal Guard who
would get to Jacob before she did, she stepped into the clearing and spoke in
as loud and angry a voice as she could muster. "Aha!"
          Jacob turned with a start at the sound of her voice. Marie relished
the shocked look on his face as she continued. "I have finally found you -
sitting here, alone by a campfire, feeling sorry for yourself."
          Jacob gasped. "Princess!"
          She glared at him, though her heart was smiling. "Princess, is it?"
          He spoke, the shock evident in his voice. "What are you doing
here?"
          She glared at him and tried to muster disgust in her expression.
"What do you think I'm doing here? I'm here to take you home. We've
been to every camp for a hundred miles."
          "But I can't go back."
          Marie was ready for that. "I thought you'd say that. So I am
prepared to stay."
          "You can't stay here," Jacob said.
          She plopped onto a log by the fire. "You stay, I stay."
          Jacob rose to his feet. "Now, look..."
          She rose back to her feet and shook her finger at him. "Don't you
'now look' me."
          Jacob spoke sternly. "This is no place for a lady."
          Marie regarded him solemnly. "At least you are calling me a lady."
          Jacob lowered his eyes, unable to meet her gaze as he spoke quietly.
"You will always be a lady to me."
          Marie was not about to let him get off that easy. "Even wearing
pants?"
          Jacob nodded. "Even wearing pants."
          They looked at each other, neither saying a word for a moment. She
finally held up her hands. "Well."
          Jacob looked at her confused. "Well, what?"
          "Aren't you going to say it is good to see me, or something?" she
asked.
          Jacob slowly moved up near her. "You don't know how good it is to
see you."
          Suddenly, she lashed out with her foot, catching him hard in the
shin.
           "Ow! What was that for?" he asked, dropping down quickly to rub
his leg as she glared at him.
          "That's for running away! I thought you said you'd always be there
for me!" she said.
          "I said I'd always be there as long as you needed me," Jacob said.
"When I saw you dancing so gracefully and beautifully around the ballroom
with those other men, I knew you no longer needed me."
          Her voice was loud and irritated. "Don't you think it should be my
choice when I don't need you? And why did you run away without even
saying goodbye?"
          Jacob turned his eyes away from her. "Please don't ask, Your
Highness."
          Marie's voice was terse. "Your Highness, is it? Well, I think I
know why you ran away."
          "You do?" Jacob asked.
          Her voice became soft and kind. "It is exactly the same reason I
saved the last dance for you."
          Jacob stood and his eyes widened in disbelief. "You saved the last
dance for me?"
          "I did, and you weren't there!" she said tersely.
          Instantly her other foot lashed out, catching him in the other shin.
          "Ow!" Jacob fell to his knees again. "Would you stop that? Oh,
how I curse the day I taught you to fight with your feet."
          She glowered at him. "That's for not being there for the last dance!"
As she moved closer to him, he rose, but watched her warily, ready to move
at any sign of a strike. She smiled at him kindly and spoke tenderly. "I'm
still saving it for you.
You see, I... I love you too."
          Jacob smiled back and half laughed. "You have an interesting way
of showing it."
          Marie looked at him sternly. "Well, I'm not leaving until you come
back with me."
          Jacob lowered his eyes again. "But you're the princess, and I am
nothing but a common soldier."
          The peacefulness of the moment was shattered by a loud commotion
and immediately the clearing filled with men. At first, Marie gloated,
thinking it was the Royal Guard, and they would be surprised that she had
found Jacob first. But, quickly, she was pushed away from Jacob, and his
sword was jerked from its sheath, as a half a dozen men pointed their
swords at him, with others standing menacingly. They all wore dark clothes
- not the royal blue of the Guard.
          She froze with fear as Duke Elnard entered the clearing.
          Jacob was furious. "Duke Elnard. What is the meaning of this?"
          Duke Elnard scoffed. "I spent lots of money hiring and training
assassins to kill the princess, only to be foiled by the great Captain of the
Guard, and then she comes right out here to me."
          Jacob moved toward him. "Why, you treacherous traitor."
          The men around Jacob brought their swords up to his throat. Duke
Elnard smirked.
"Now, now, we need not get nasty. It is convenient that I
will be able to dispose of both of you and make it look like the Esconodians
did it."
          Jacob was angry, but he was helpless. "Why are you doing this?"
          Duke Elnard seemed to relish his position. "I would think that
would be obvious to a man of such famed intelligence. With the princess
gone, her lands will stay in my power. And by me continuing to feed false
intelligence to the queen and the Esconodians, I can keep the flames of war
burning between them until I can get the northern end of the kingdom I
control to rebel against her. Once I become king with the help of the
Esconodians, I will work a peace treaty with them. It's all so simple, really.
The only thing standing in my way is a Royal Princess and the great Captain
of the Guard. But once you are gone I will take control of the Royal Guard
itself, something that should have been mine anyway."
          Jacob glared at him. "You'll never manage that?"
          Duke Elnard smirked "I'm sure that will be the easiest part of all. I
will keep sending men to infiltrate the Royal Guard until most of them work
for me. I don't know how you knew which of the new recruits worked for
me, but you won't be there now."
          Jacob paused and just stared at him for a moment before he finally
spoke. "What makes you think I knew which ones were your men?"
          Duke Elnard smiled menacingly. "Oh, don't be coy with me. The
only ones you dismissed were men I had trained."
          "The ones I dismissed were your men?" Jacob asked.
          Duke Elnard raised his sword. "Don't try to act innocent. It won't
save you now."
          Jacob looked directly at him. "Why don't you release me, and let's
face each other like men?"
          "Do you take me for a fool?" Duke Elnard replied. "All know of
your great dexterity with a sword. Yet, I am tempted, for only one man has
ever beaten me. Still, I cannot afford to take any chances. No, I'll keep you
right where you are while I dispatch the princess first."
          Marie, stunned by this whole turn of events, was finally able to pull
herself together. She drew her sword. "You may find that easier said than
done, you coward."
          Duke Elnard smirked at her and raised his own sword. "Have it your
way, Your Highness. I always love a little fun."
          She attacked quickly, taking him by surprise. She initially drove
him back, but his superior expertise soon became evident, and he drove her
to a standstill, swords locked. He snarled at her. "I have underestimated
you. But you are still nothing but a girl."
          He shoved her backward, and she stumbled, but recovered in time to
block his attack. They fought quite evenly - her youthfulness and speed
making up for his experience. Jacob was gasping for breath, frightened for
her, but knowing there was nothing he could do.
          Again they locked swords. Marie glared at him. "You're right. I
am a girl."
          Her foot shot forward and slammed into Duke Elnard's shin, and as
he doubled over in pain, caught off guard, she slashed his arm and swept the
sword from his hand. He moved quickly, before she could strike again, and
signaled to one of his men. The man swung his sword, slashing Marie's
arm and knocking the sword from her hand. Marie grabbed her bleeding
arm.
          With everyone's attention diverted, Jacob lunged for Duke Elnard's
fallen sword, did a roll, and came up fighting. He was fighting hard and
fast, but he couldn't get through to Marie. There were just too many men.
          Duke Elnard, seeing that his men were easily holding Jacob off,
picked up Marie's sword and advanced toward her. She backed away and
stumbled to the ground. He leered over her. "Your precious captain can't
save you now, Princess."
          He raised the sword to strike her. Jacob yelled, "No!" and fought
harder, but to no avail. Suddenly, a shadow flew over Marie and slammed
Duke Elnard in the chest, sending him tumbling. There, in front of Marie,
stood Lord High Chamberlain. Immediately, the men of the Royal Guard
ran into the clearing and joined in the fight. They were still outnumbered by
Duke Elnard's men, but each was a superior fighter.
          Most of Jacob's assailants had to turn their attention elsewhere,
leaving him only two. He quickly relieved one of his sword and kicked the
other in the chest, sending him into some bushes. Instead of going after
him, he ran to Marie. "Marie, are you all right?"
          She had tears in her eyes, but nodded, and Jacob could see that her
wound was not serious, though it must be painful. Marie could see the
anger in Jacob's face. He stood and raised his sword menacingly as Duke
Elnard stood to face Lord High Chamberlain.
          "Let me fight him, Your Lordship," Jacob said.
          Lord High Chamberlain shook his head. "No, Captain. You guard
the princess. This fight is mine to make up for my mistake many years
ago."
          Jacob turned back to Marie as Lord High Chamberlain faced Duke
Elnard
           "So, Tobias, we face off again, after all these years," Lord High
Chamberlain said.
          Duke Elnard sneered. "Yes, but this time I will win. You are an old
man."
          Lord High Chamberlain eyed him narrowly. "And you are a fool."
          The two men raised their swords. Duke Elnard almost spit out his
words with venom in his voice. "I suppose you expect me to call you 'Sir'.
Well you are weak,
Sir. And your weakness is in your loyalty to the
queen."
          Lord High Chamberlain stood upright and proud. "And yours is in
your black-hearted treachery and deceit."
          Duke Elnard's swung his free hand forward, throwing dirt into Lord
High Chamberlain's eyes. Momentarily blinded, Lord High Chamberlain
swung his sword instinctively, meeting Duke Elnard's attack. Fighting half-blinded, Lord High Chamberlain fought with great expertise and, as his eyes
cleared, he went on the offense, driving Duke Elnard before him.
          Duke Elnard pulled back and trembled with anger. "You didn't stop
me when you could have, and you can't stop me now."
          Lord High Chamberlain still stood calm and unruffled. "You're
wrong. This time, I will put an end to your treason."
          Duke Elnard attacked vehemently, but Lord High Chamberlain was
far superior. He, however, was old, and the fight was wearing on him.
Duke Elnard would try unusual moves, but to no avail. Lord High
Chamberlain had chances at times to strike and end the fight, but he seemed
reluctant to kill Duke Elnard, apparently trying only to disarm him. Finally,
positioning himself in close proximity, Lord High Chamberlain pivoted on
his back foot, using his front foot to sweep Duke Elnard's legs out from
under him. Lord High Chamberlain knocked Duke Elnard's sword from his
hand and put his own blade to the traitor's throat.
          Duke Elnard glared at him. "Go ahead. Kill me. You have wanted
to for many years."
          Lord High Chamberlain remained calm. "I have never wanted the
life of anyone, not even yours, but you have sought mine, and the life of the
queen and princess many times. I grant you your life to face whatever
punishment is to be meted out to you. Tell your men to surrender." Duke
Elnard looked at him defiantly. The men of the Royal Guard, far
outnumbered, were tiring. Lord High Chamberlain pressed his sword tight
against Duke Elnard's throat. "Now!"
          Duke Elnard's voice trembled with fear as he called to his men.
"You men heard him. Surrender your weapons."
          As the fighting around them came to a halt, and Duke Elnard's men
surrendered their weapons, Jacob took the time to rip Marie's sleeve and use
it to bandage her arm. By the time he finished, all weapons were collected,
and Duke Elnard's men stood surrounded. John was sent to the camp for
reenforcements to take care of the prisoners.
          Once Marie's arm was bandaged, her brave exterior melted away,
and she fell into Jacob's arms, sobbing. He held her close to comfort her.
Though things had not gone as she expected, feeling his arms around her
again made everything seem right. As her sobs changed to sniffles, Jacob
told her he thought she had been very brave. His praise lifted her heart and
she wiped the tears from her eyes.
          A contingency of men soon arrived and took all of the prisoners,
except for Duke Elnard. Lord High Chamberlain turned to Marie and
pointed at Duke Elnard. "Princess, what would you have done with him?"
          Marie leaned against Jacob, his arm around her. She looked at Lord
High Chamberlain for a moment, and finally spoke. "Matthew, before I
make any decisions, I want to know a few things. Where did you learn to
fight so expertly, when did you meet Duke Elnard before, and generally,
what in the world is going on?"
          Lord High Chamberlain bowed. "I understand your confusion, Your
Highness. All of the questions are related. You see, I was the Captain of
the Guard before Captain Richin's father was."
          "My father often spoke highly of his captain," Jacob said, "but I
didn't realize you were him."
          Lord High Chamberlain smiled at Jacob's surprise. "Your father
and I are good friends. In fact, I was the one who taught your father to fight,
and he, in turn, has taught you well. I was called on often to protect Her
Majesty, the queen, and she came to ask my advice at times. It wasn't long
before I was advanced to advisor, and eventually, to Lord High
Chamberlain. And when that first advancement came, I recommended your
father to my position."
          "Isn't it unusual for a soldier to rise to the rank of Lord High
Chamberlain?" Marie asked.
          Lord High Chamberlain nodded. "That is true. But the queen had
learned from her marriage to Alexander that it was important to look on a
man's heart."
          "But what does that have to do with Duke Elnard?" Jacob asked.
          "I was the one that got him into the guard," Lord High Chamberlain
said. "When he was not made the captain after me, it angered him. He felt
he should really have been king and viewed being captain as a step toward
that continued aspiration. When he didn't get it, he drew his sword and
swore to kill me, and then the queen." Lord High Chamberlain looked
ashamed as he continued. "We fought, and when I beat him, I chose to let
him go, unable to bring charges against him, even though I knew it was my
duty to do so. I knew I should have, but because of personal reasons, I
could not."
          Marie wanted to ask him further about what his personal reasons
were, but he continued on before she had a chance. Lord High Chamberlain
turned to Jacob. "You see, Captain, that was why I insisted you send away
some new recruits. I could sense they were trained by him when I fought
against them. They had his style. I felt he was trying to, in a sense, gain
control of the Guard in other ways."
          Duke Elnard burst out angrily. "The advancements should have
been mine, or I should have been made king. Louise had no right to be
queen after she married that lowly Bernodian."
          Marie could feel her blood start to boil at hearing him speak of her
father that way. Before she could say anything, Lord High Chamberlain
turned Duke Elnard. "You were undeserving of advancement. You had a
blackness in your heart and only sought those positions to destroy the queen
and gain the throne."
          Lord High Chamberlain turned to the princess.
"
Being the queen's
cousin, he later sought for, and was appointed, guardian of Bernodia until
you came of age, Princess. I always knew, if I had charged him as I should
have, he would have never been in that position. I tried to persuade the
queen against it, but I never had the courage to tell her that I had not done
my duty in having charges brought against him."
          "How did you know it was he who was carrying out the attempted
assassinations?" Jacob asked.
          "The first attempted assassination plot, supposedly by the
Esconodians, had too many details that indicated to me it was by someone
who knew the palace well. Though I could not prove it, everything pointed
to Duke Elnard. I have always kept my sword ready to defend the royal
family and knew there had to be too much inside information about the
palace helping the assassins. I also noticed the attempts always coincided
with Duke Elnard's visits. Further, we received reports of horrible
treatment of the people in Bernodia - higher taxes and confiscation of
property done in the name of the queen, inciting rebellion against her."
          Lord High Chamberlain paused. This seemed to be a hard moment
for him. He turned to Marie. "Your Highness, I beg your forgiveness of my
past dereliction of duty that has led to so much trouble."
          Marie smiled kindly at him. "Of course. No one has been more
loyal and kind to my mother than you have. You have been a good and
trusted friend, and you have also just saved my life."
          Lord High Chamberlain bowed. "What would you have us do with
this traitor, Your Highness?"
          She turned and looked at Duke Elnard. "We must take him back to
the palace with us for trial. Besides, Duke Elnard will surely want to
witness my wedding."
          Duke Elnard spoke with great contempt. "Your wedding?" He
turned and pointed at Jacob. "Don't tell me you are really planning on
marrying him?"
          Marie faced Jacob. "Yes, the great and honorable Captain of the
Guard." She then paused and searched Jacob's eyes. "At least I am hoping
with all of my heart."
          Duke Elnard rolled his eyes in disgust. "You are worse than your
mother. You would even go so far as to marry a common soldier?"
          Marie felt the anger rising in her. He had insulted her father, and
now, Jacob. She reached down, pulled her sword from Jacob's hand, and
stuck it to Duke Elnard's throat. "Perhaps you may call him a common
soldier, but he is an uncommon man." She then pressed the blade tightly to
his throat. "Don't you agree?"
          Duke Elnard swallowed hard. All could see the anger in her eyes
and the fear in his. He nodded vehemently. "Oh, yes. Of course."
          Jacob lowered his eyes and looked away. "But Your Highness..."
          Marie sheathed her sword, standing squarely in front of him. She
reached up and touched his face so he would have to look at her. "I would
appreciate it if you would call me Marie."
          Jacob's voice quivered as he spoke humbly and subdued. "But
Marie, I
am
just a common soldier. I can't be a prince."
          Marie leaned her head back and laughed falsely. "Ha! A prince is
more a prince in how he acts than in how he's born." She could see he
remembered the first tutoring day when he had said something similar to
her. That was exactly what she wanted him to remember. As he turned his
eyes from her, she again reached up and touched his face so he would have
to look at her again. She felt as if she was going to cry, but she didn't care.
She smiled at him as his eyes finally met hers. "Besides," she said, "you
will always be a prince to me."
          "What will your mother say?" Jacob asked.
          "My mother has already given her permission," Marie replied.
          Lord High Chamberlain added, "Not only that, but her blessing.
She actually hoped for this day when she asked you to take this
assignment."
          Jacob and Marie both turned to stare at him.
          "Mother planned it all along?" Marie asked.
           Lord High Chamberlain nodded. "Yes. She hoped for this union
from the beginning." He then grinned in an uncharacteristic manner and
elbowed Jacob. "Captain, you're probably the only one that can handle
her."
          "Hey! I heard that!" Marie said, laughter telling in her voice.
          Lord High Chamberlain cleared his throat and tried to resume a
more formal demeanor. "Yes. So I suppose the only thing left to be done is
for you to ask her to marry you."
          Jacob paused, seemingly still unsure of everything. He glanced at
Marie and then back at Lord High Chamberlain. Lord High Chamberlain
nodded and motioned Jacob toward her. "Well, go on."
          Jacob turned to Marie. "Marie, I must admit, though I tried to lock
my heart against it, I have actually loved you from the first tutoring day
when you kicked me." He paused as she blushed and smiled. He too
smiled at her as he continued. "But the day you first wore a gown and I
took you in my arms to dance, my heart told me there was no turning back,
and that's why, when I was sure you didn't need me anymore, that I felt I
had to leave."
          "Perhaps I didn't need you as a tutor any more," she said, "but I will
always need you to be my friend."
          Jacob held both of her hands in his and stood facing her. "Princess
Marie, if you will marry me, I promise I will always love you and do
everything I can to make you happy."
          She threw her arms around his neck and sobbed openly. "Yes, of
course I will!"
          As the men of the Royal Guard let out a cheer, Lord High
Chamberlain patted Jacob on the back. "Well, then, let's get back to the
palace. We have a wedding to plan."
          Even though the sun was almost set, Lord High Chamberlain was
concerned that others of Duke Elnard's men might try to rescue him, and
decided they should get into the South before daylight. They traveled all
night by moonlight, and much of the next day before they stopped to camp.
Two more hard days' travel found them at the palace.
          Jacob was nervous about meeting with the queen, but as Marie
brought him before her, the queen smiled warmly. "Welcome back, Jacob."
She didn't even address him as Captain, and Marie felt her heart flutter as
she knew what Lord High Chamberlain had said was true. Her mother had
planned for this all along.