The Third Son (13 page)

“Perhaps you can go to your graves with a clean conscious,” Serge said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Maybe God will forgive you for the sins you have committed if you confess all.”

“I ain’t no God-fearin’ man,” the large man said, his hard and narrow eyes shifting to Serge.  

“Besides, there is no priest present!” piped the third man, who Damien noticed was clutching a string of wooden rosary beads in his trembling hands. Tears streaked his grimy face, but Damien refused to have any pity for this man.

“We will provide a final confession, should you wish it,” Damien said. “But first you will confess to us.”

The religious man, shaking with terror, took a timid step forward. “You must understand!” he pleaded. “He threatened my family, threatened to hurt my son if I didn’t do what he said. Promised me money if I agreed.”

“He did the same to me!” said the scarred man. “Seemed to know everything about me and my family.”

“So this man walks around the city, masked, and looks for peasants to do his bidding?” asked Nicolai incredulously.

“The masked man don’t walk,” said the religious man. “And he don’t look for nobody. He just knows things. He finds you. And God help you if you refuse him.”

“Why not report this suspicious man to the proper authorities?” asked Lionus. “Why not come to us with this information?” 

“
Pardon me for saying so, your grace,” said the scar faced man. “But we ain’t exactly livin’ in no palace. Me and my wife got seven children and little money. The amount he offered to see the deed done would have been enough for us to live on for most of our remaining lives.”

Damien raised his brow. “So this man is wealthy?”

The religious man nodded. “He dresses finely and speaks like you do.”

Damien and Serge exchanged glances. Could this masked vigilante be a member of the nobility, someone with a close association to the royal family? This tiny bit of information could change everything.

“Why don’t you describe everything about this man that you can remember?” Serge said. “Appearance, clothing, anything at all.”

“You’re all a bunch of fools!” roared the large man, who had been glowering silently through the entire exchange. “You think these snotty little nobs give a damn about us or our families? They’re gonna hang us all the same!”

“I don’t care!” cried the religious man. “He’s right!” He pointed at Serge. “We have to do what’s right before we die!”

“I’ll tell you,” the scarred man said. “Though as far as looks go there ain’t much to tell. He wears this mask, you see, made of pure silver, with nothing but dark slits for the eyes and mouth. You can’t see nothing of his hair, as he keeps it covered. Even wears gloves so you can’t see his hands.”

“His clothes are the finest material,” said the religious man. “You can tell he is a man of means and wealth.”

Lionus sighed heavily, resting his head in his hands. They weren’t likely to get much more information from these men; it seemed the men had told everything they knew. 

“Is there anything else?” Damien asked, hoping for even one more shred of information to add to what little they had.

The two cooperative men seemed to think for a moment before the religious man spoke up. “His cane! I almost forgot.”

The scar faced man nodded in agreement. “It was different than anything I’d ever seen. It had a silver handle, shaped like a bird and two snakes.”

“A bird and two snakes you say?” Nicolai inquired. “Perhaps a family crest.”

“I’m not sure about that but, the two snakes are wrapped around the bird…maybe it’s a hawk…I don’t know, but the two snakes are attacking the bird.”

“Sounds custom made,” remarked Lionus, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “It certainly does not sound like the crest of any family in Cardenas.”

“Before you go,” Damien said as Lionus went to the door to signal the guards. “Did this man indicate whether or not this plot only involved the king?”

The religious man’s eyes widened. “Yes he did your grace! He said something about how he sought to justify the wrongs done him and his family. He said he was going to make things right, starting with His Majesty.”

Lionus whipped around, his face stricken with fear for a moment before his usual calm mask slipped back into place. His eyes met Damien’s and they shared the same private thought. They were all in grave danger. The guards entered to take the men away. Lionus turned to the two prisoners who had cooperated with them.

“I appreciate your help. And though I cannot repeal your sentences, I can make what precious little time you have left on this earth a bit brighter. Tell my captain of the guard where your families are and I will allow them to come here to visit with you before you are hanged. You will also be permitted a final confession; a priest will be sent to you.”
He
turned to his captain of the guard. “See to it that this man,” he pointed at the larger man, “receives forty lashes for his impertinence. I also want his ration of food for the remainder of his time here to be divided between these two gentlemen here.”

The large man’s eyes bulged wide, jaw clenched, his fists clenched. “You arrogant bastard!” he snarled. “You can’t do that!” 

Lionus stepped forward until he and the beefy man were nearly nose to nose.
He
drew himself to his full height and though the man was a few inches taller than him, he managed to look down his nose at him. “I think you will find that I can. You have committed treason and failed to cooperate in this investigation. And so I will make what is left of your miserably pathetic life a living hell.” He turned back to the guards. “Get these men out of my sight!”

Once the room was clear and the men were alone once more, Lionus sunk
back
into the chair behind his desk. The other three took chairs across from the desk and stared at each other for a moment in silence. Serge was the first to speak.

“So we are looking for a man no one can name or describe, a man of great wealth, wearing a mask and carrying a distinctive cane.”

Nicolai nodded, his face grim. “The odds are definitely against us here. This man is slinking around, undetected and unrecognized, coercing the citizens of Cardenas into doing his bidding.”

“Have any of you given any thought to the fact that this person is probably a member of the royal court?” Damien asked quietly, staring into the wavering fire. “He could be here at Largess Hall as we speak.”

“Then there is only one thing to do,” Lionus said, his mouth a harsh line. He looked tired and haggard, despite his faultless state of dress. “I will have mother cancel the rest of the festivities and send everyone away. Once she knows how dire the situation is, I am sure she will be reasonable and do as I ask. We will continue to fortify the castle with guards and put all our energies into discovering who this masked man is.”

“Perhaps that is not the best idea,” said Nicolai. “If he is in fact among our guests, perhaps it is best we keep it that way. It will be easier to see an attack coming, if he has one planned, by keeping the situation contained here.” 

“He’s right,” agreed Damien. “We will just have to pay extra attention to our guests, listen a little more carefully to the gossip. We need to find out who might possibly have a grudge against father.”

“We’ll need to ask around about that cane,” Serge added. “And maybe even go around town and ask some questions. I am sure we could find some more people that have come in contact with this masked man.” 

“Agreed,” said Lionus decisively. “Serge, you go to all the silversmiths in the city-I believe there are only three-and see if you can get information on a custom made cane fitting the description we were given. Nicolai and I will circulate among the guests to find out whatever gossip we can
. W
e will also observe the men to see if any of them carry the cane on them.” He turned to Damien. “You will go to the seedier side of town-since you are familiar with it-and find out what you can. Question whoever you must and find out if anyone else has encountered this man.”

The four men went their separate ways once they left Lionus’ study, Damien headed for the observatory. He needed some time alone to clear his thoughts before be confronted Davina.
Damien
wished he could make sense of it, but the web of intrigue surrounding his family threatened to envelop them all. The words that Akira had spoken sprang forth in his memory and caused him to shiver with dread. She had told him to beware the viper in his bosom, that its strike would deal a deadly blow to the royal family. Damien was certain that this masked man was the viper she spoke of and that he was someone close to the family. The very thought made him wary, causing him to look over his shoulder to ensure that guards were present as he walked down the dark corridor.

****

Raina sat before the fireplace in the living room, cross-legged on the rug. She had an array of beads laid out on the carpet and was fashioning a necklace. Akira sat in a nearby armchair, sipping tea. Esmeralda joined her mother on the floor, watching the beautiful creation take shape as
she
chose which beads to add to her necklace.

“It sure was nice of Prince Damien to offer Desmond that job at the palace,” Raina commented lightly, pausing to glance at Esmeralda. “Desmond’s pretty excited about it.”

Esmeralda smiled warmly at the mention of her prince. “Yes, Damien is very generous.”

Raina laughed softly. “Someone here is besotted.” 

Esmeralda didn’t bother to deny it. “
H
e’s just so wonderful. The things people say about him aren’t true! At least I think they aren’t,” she said softly, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.

“You’re not sure?” Raina asked.

Esmeralda stared into the dwindling fire, thinking on her mother’s question before answering. “He’s charming and smart,” she said. “He’s kind and generous. How can someone like that be so bad?”

Akira nodded. “He’s a good boy,” she said, setting her teacup aside. “I saw it in him when I looked into his eyes.”

Esmeralda needed no further convincing. Akira had ways of seeing into a person’s soul, and seemed to see the same good in Damien that Esmeralda did.

“Well then,” said Raina. “If he makes you happy, then I am happy. You’ve needed a little happiness this past year.”

Akira nodded in agreement. She and Raina had nursed
Esmeralda
back to health after the vicious attack that had killed her father. They had witnessed the pain caused by the wicked men who had violated her and the carefully erected defenses Esmeralda had built up around herself as a result.

“So, will you be going to the picnic tomorrow?” asked Akira with a grin, her eyes glowing with glee. Esmeralda’s jaw dropped.

“How did you know about that?”

Akira laughed, a deep throaty cackle resounded through the small sitting room. “I won’t reveal my ways, love, but I will tell you you’re a fool if you refuse him.”

“What aren’t you two telling me?” Raina inquired, setting her jewelry aside and looking first at Akira and then Esmeralda. “What’s going on?”

“The royal court is gathered for the wedding of Prince Lionus and Princess Isabelle. There are entertainments planned and Damien has invited me to a picnic tomorrow afternoon.”  

Raina’s eyes sparkled and she clasped her hands together against her chest, which seemed to swell with pride. “How wonderful! Of course you’ll go!”

Esmeralda shook her head. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. We don’t move in such high circles. I wouldn’t know how to behave around all those lords and ladies.”

“You’ll be yourself and the lords and ladies be damned!” cried Akira, standing from her chair. “You mustn’t let those people stand in the way of what is to be.”

Esmeralda didn’t even try to figure out what her grandmother meant by that strange statement. Akira saw things oftentimes before they happened and chose to reveal what she wanted when she wanted.

“
Mama
,” said Raina to Akira, “Would you please find Desmond and have him bring down my large trunk from the attic? He’ll know which one. I need a moment with Esmeralda.”

Akira glided up the stairs, surprisingly spry for one her age, her robes swishing around her ankles as she went. Raina sighed and took her daughter’s hand.

“I have something I want to tell you, woman to woman. I know that you are my daughter, but we are also friends.”

“Of course we are
.
.”

“But first I want to know how you feel about the prince.”

Esmeralda’s gaze wandered to the small portrait of her parents over the fireplace, gazing into her father’s velvety brown eyes. She imagined that she would come to feel the same way about Damien as her parents had felt about each other. “I can’t really name it yet. It’s just so soon, but…I feel so light around him and easy.”

“I loved your father dearly,” Raina began. “When we met in Spain we knew almost immediately that we loved each other. He gave me two beautiful children and a peaceful and wonderful life. But before your father, there was someone else.”

That was not hard for Esmeralda to believe. Even now in her fifties, Raina was a beautiful woman.