Warrior (53 page)

“I will come after supper,” she told

him softly, even as her mind began to

swarm with various ideas. What if

Vulcan didn’t listen to reason? Could

she allow her friend to die because

her husband was too thick-skulled to

see that Malcolm was innocent?

No, she could not.

***

It was the day before Malcolm was

to face the deadly blade of the

executioner and Jaisyn was at her

wit’s end. She’d pleaded with Vulcan

once more for the sake of her friend,

but he’d remained firm on his

decision. His idea of showing mercy

was giving Malcolm a quick, painless

death. She’d done everything, had

even gone as far as to compare this to

the murder of her brother. Vulcan had

blanched at that, but had been quick

to remind her that Malcolm was not

her blood, and that her brother had

been killed because he’d been caught

in the midst of a battle.

Jaisyn ran a hand along the wet

waves atop her head and sighed. It

was already afternoon. One thing was

certain: Vulcan would not change his

mind. She could no longer depend

upon her husband to save Malcolm.

And no more could she sit and watch

as Malcolm’s head was separated

from his body. Malcolm had been one

of the stable factors in Jaisyn’s life

since the moment she began training

with him. Not only had he helped her

skill at sword fighting, but he’d taught

her things people were too afraid to

teach a woman, let alone a princess.

Like how to swear properly, and how

to fight dirty should the need arise.

He’d been her confidant, her friend,

the person who knew her better than

most.

She sank down further in the tub of

cool water and shook her head. Two

maids were in the room with her,

waiting to wash her hair and to assist

her with anything she needed. Jaisyn

picked up the soapy cloth on the side

of the tub, dipped it into the cool

water and placed it on the back of her

neck. She did not know how long she

remained in that position as her

thoughts swirled with possibilities but

she was pulled from them by one of

the maids.

“Majesty, would ye like me to wash

yer hair before the water grows

cold?”

Jaisyn removed the cloth from her

neck and nodded. “Yes, please.”

The maid went about doing just that.

The water was cool as it landed on

her scalp but Jaisyn did not mind. The

shock seemed to fuel her brain cells

and as the maids lathered her hair

with the flower-scented soap, Jaisyn’s

mind worked furiously. She did not

even feel their attentions to her scalp

and had to be nudged softly to know

that they were finished.

***

Jaisyn watched the thick darkness

fill her chambers as the sun made its

descent. After supper, she retired to

the chambers she’d been occupying

since her return to Lytheria. Her own

chambers. Varian had taken the solar

for himself, so she and Vulcan now

occupied separate chambers. It was

just as well. For one, Jaisyn did not

wish to look on her husband as he

refused to listen to reason, and two,

she could not bear the thought of him

touching her and making her body

respond when her friend was to die

soon, by his command.

She sent up a prayer for this

arrangement as she stepped from her

bedgown and rummaged through the

chests of clothing she’d left in

Lytheria, looking for dark breeches

and a dark tunic. She did not have to

search long. After donning those, she

moved to the chest containing a sword

and scabbard. Attaching those to her

hip, she peered into the looking glass

and pulled her thick hair into a tight

bun. Rummaging once more through

her chests, she found a dark shawl,

which she wrapped around her head,

obscuring every inch of hair.

She was ready.

***

Malcolm accepted that it was his

fate to die by the executioner’s blade.

He’d mentally prepared himself for

what was to become morning, and

had just settled against the hard cot for

the last sleep from which he would

wake. He was dozing when he heard,

as though it were far off, a commotion

outside of his cell. Pushing himself up,

he looked around in the dark, and

strained his ears. After what seemed

like hours, his cell door swung open

and the dim light of a torch flooded his

cell.

Jaisyn stepped into the doorway,

dressed from head to foot in black

cloth, and beckoned him forward. In

addition to the torch, she held a sword

in her other hand.

“Hurry. We have little time.” He

scrambled to his feet and shrugged on

his tunic before leaving the cell. The

soldier who guarded him was sitting

on the ground, a thick length of rope

wrapped around his torso and his

arms. He didn’t look angry, though.

And he wasn’t yelling for help despite

not wearing a gag.

“Take his sword, Malcolm,” Jaisyn

said, pointing with one to the scabbard

braced against the wall. He did as

commanded, attaching it to the belt

around his waist and latching it tightly.

Before moving away, Jaisyn knelt

by the soldier and spoke softly. “I

cannot let an innocent man die. Do

not worry. You won’t be blamed.”

With that, she strode toward the

staircase that would take them to the

first floor. Malcolm followed, silent,

and wondered if he were caught in a

dream.

They moved swiftly through the

castle. When Jaisyn doused the torch

and tossed it aside as they reached the

first floor, he knew that this was no

dream. Jaisyn was attempting to free

him. He was both excited and afraid

at the same time. If he escaped, she

would no doubt be held accountable,

and an unpredictable Vulcan was a

deadly one.

They dodged the warriors that

patrolled the hallways, hiding in

doorways and in the dark shadows of

the castle until they finally crossed the

courtyard to the Temple. Jaisyn and

Malcolm walked stealthily to the back

of the Temple, pushing open the dark

door that would lead them into a

small, unlit room. They’d reached the

secret passage.

Jaisyn stilled before him, turned and

spoke for the first time since the

dungeon. “The opening of the passage

will alert the guards. We must hurry.

I’ve left a horse for you a mile from

here. You have water, bread and

cheese to last the night, and sufficient

coin to get you to Mitherie.”

With that, she turned and ran her

hand across the wall until she felt the

slight dip in the stones. Pressing

against it, she leaned into the wall.

Malcolm added his weight as well. It

wasn’t long before they heard a slight

scrape. Jaisyn retrieved her hand

immediately

and

stepped

back.

Malcolm followed suit. The door

rumbled as it came forward before

groaning and swinging outward.

As soon as it was open, they began

to run, sidestepping trees and dips in

the ground. They’d run this path

numerous times as children, when

Jaisyn had been giving her father and

her governess grief. Jaisyn led the way

and sent up a prayer to the Goddess

that it was a moonlit night. They’d

been running for long minutes before

Jaisyn slowed to a stop and veered off

at brisk walk to the right. Malcolm

followed, tripping slightly over fallen

branches, until they stopped once

more. Jaisyn whistled into the silent

forest and he heard a snort, followed

by rustling leaves.

“This way,” Jaisyn said softly,

heading in the direction of the noise.

They came upon the beast shortly

thereafter. He was as big as his sire

and midnight black in color. Jaisyn

had tied him loosely to a tree. She

untied the rope that held him.

“Acer’s saddled and ready to go,”

she said, patting the beast’s sides and

running a hand along his neck. He

snorted appreciatively. “He’s as fast

as Ajax and can get you to Mitherie in

less than a week if you ride hard.”

Malcolm took the reins and began to

lead him to the pathway that would

take them into the countryside. Once

there, he turned to Jaisyn, the girl

who’d been his closest friend, the

woman he still loved. “I don’t know

how I’ll ever be able to repay you for

this, but I’ll begin by saying thank

you.”

Jaisyn smiled slightly, although it did

not reach her eyes. “You don’t have

to thank me. I couldn’t let an innocent

man die. Go.”

“And thank you for Acer…I know

how much Ajax means to you.”

Malcolm swung onto the stallion, who

didn’t so much as budge as he did so.

She was about to reply when they

both heard the sounds of men

shouting.

“Go, Malcolm!” she whispered

urgently. He turned on Acer, looking

back in the direction of the voices.

***

“Come with me to Mitherie,” he

said suddenly, and Jaisyn’s eyebrows

crinkled in confusion. Did he not

understand

that

she

loved

her

husband? That she wished to stay with

Vulcan? Malcolm suddenly shook his

head at her facial expression and said,

“Vulcan won’t forgive you this. It’s

treason. Come with me. The Katarals

will make sure you are safe.”

She took a step away from him.

“No. I won’t be responsible for

another war, Malcolm. Vulcan will

forgive me in time. Now go!”

With that, she took a quick step

forward and brought her hand down

on Acer’s flank. He snorted angrily

and took off. Malcolm looked back

once before he flattened himself

against Acer. Before long, they were

out of sight and Jaisyn felt her body

relax. She stared at the path ahead for

long moments, hoping she had been

right about Vulcan. He would forgive

her in time. She had done nothing

wrong except save an innocent man.

She sighed and tugged the scarf from

her head. The sounds of men shouting

were getting closer.

Turning in their direction, she stood

still and awaited her fate. Her husband

would

understand.

He

had

to

understand. As the soldiers came into

sight, a question pricked at her mind.

What would she do if he didn’t?

***

Vulcan had been unable to sleep.

His mind was replaying comments

from Jaisyn as she tried to convince

him to release Malcolm. She’d leaned

over the desk in the study, and stared

at him full on, while asking if he

would be able to live with himself if he

killed an innocent man? She’d also

added that if he allowed Malcolm to

die, she would never forgive him.

When she’d left, he had been unable

to think of anything else except his

wife, Malcolm, and how she would

feel about Malcolm’s death. The

justices

had

already

sentenced

Malcolm and as they acted on his

behalf, it would make him seem

unstable if he were to give pardon

now. He sighed and stared into the

soft flame at the hearth.

Jaisyn had been cool to him since

she found out he’d been responsible

for injuring Malcolm. She did not

speak to him unless she was pleading

for Malcolm and she certainly did not

visit his bed. He was aware that if he

tried to visit hers, she would probably

attempt to injure him.

He ran a hand across his face and