| |
“Maeve!” Someone is shaking me awake. “Maeve wake up. You are dreaming.”
I hold on to Marionna and try to calm down, but it is hard. I am tired of this. I am tired of everything and I wonder if living is worth it? How much more can I take? I shake off my self-pity. One can take anything, if she is a Payne.
“What were you dreaming about that scared you so?” Ezra forces me to look at him. “This is no nightmare. Are you being accosted in your sleep? Is someone haunting you?”
I cannot face him when I shake my head no. Ezra is smarter than most, and more stubborn than all. He spots the trickle of blood on my neck. He touches it with his fingertips before rubbing it between them.
“This is fresh.” He observes.
“I scratched myself.”
“With a knife?” Christian’s brother shakes me gently. “Do not lie to me. Who is it?”
“It is the Bloodtaker.” Marionna answers for me. “He fed on her. I have seen this before.”
“Where did you see it?” Ezra asks her. “Where have you been?”
“Everywhere.” Is her reply.
“What have you seen?”
“Everything.”
I get a chill. Ezra does also. She is a walking mystery that even I want to learn.
“You are mistaken.” Why am I lying to Marionna when she knows all?
“And you are a liar.” His face hardens. “What sort of coward cuts women while they sleep? If it is not the Bloodtaker, is it the Antonov?”
“Ramsay?” I frown. “He would never hurt me.”
“Then who damn it?”
“I cannot say.” I say passionately. “He will kill my sister. He wants me, and my child.”
“The child lives?” His eyes widen in shock. “You have not lost it?”
I show him the roundness through my dress. “No.”
“This child is my kin, and my brother’s heir. Tell me who threatens a Beaumont child?
“I cannot. He will kill me, if I do.”
“I cannot walk in dreams, or I would find out myself.” Ezra smiles dangerously. “But I know one who can, and he enjoys killing Bloodtakers.”
“He told me not to tell anyone. The bastard hurts Elizabeth-Ann to get to me.”
Ezra’s eyes fall on the sleeping beauty. “We will return her to the Eriksons before we head home. They can protect her. The dream walker is your only hope, if we cannot get to whoever has cursed you. We have many miles ahead of us.”
“I have many miles behind me.” I remind him.
“They will be easier now that, you are back with your family.”
“Am I?” I ask him. “Back with my family? How do I know it was not you who gave me to the Cardinal when I was taken?”
“Exactly.” Marionna agrees giving Ezra a nasty look.
“And you.” He turns to her. “I tire of your mouth. Keep it shut or I will—”
“You will what, Beaumont?” She cuts him off. “What will you do if I refuse?”
He rolls his eyes and turns back to me where the company is more pleasant.
“You know because I love my brother more than I love our faith. I would never cross him.” He helps me out of the bed of the wagon. “We are a safe enough distance away that you can ride up front with me. Keep your head down and wrap a blanket around yourself.”
“Good.” Marionna exclaims. “I hate riding in this thing.”
“Not you.” Ezra tells her. “There is only room for one.”
There is plenty of room for us both. He is being rude back to her. She opens her mouth to say something but closes it again and settles back down in the cart.
“I missed you all.” I admit with a rush of emotions. “Sometimes I wondered if I would see Christian again. He seems to be in good health.”
“Only on the outside.”
My loins tremble when I picture him in his bright blue and gold vest over a crisp white blouse and hose. He wore his big, blue and gold captain’s hat proudly. His sunshine colored hair is in need of a trim. The Butcher’s pink lips are too full not to mention. When I first laid my eyes on Christian-after these months apart the ground shifted underneath me far below the sea. The stars rained down for me to touch. The sky was painted all blue, and my every wish came true. It was the happy place after having nowhere to hide from the demons riding my steps. It was the moment that I knew hope works. I pictured him swooping aboard Ramsay’s ship on a rope like a hero in a favorite novel. He would take me in his arms and promise to never leave me again. Then we would kiss against the sunset and live happily ever after. I sigh romantically. Ezra lets the horses lope along at their own pace and brings a bag of wine to his lips from time to time. Only, he does not take any into his mouth. I am surprised when he pulls out a long, wooden pipe. He is not a smoker.
“You really are a spy.” I whisper. “And a damn good one too.”
“That is by far the best compliment that anyone has ever bestowed upon me.” He adds. “I needed that after being verbally castrated by your sister.”
“She is wonderful, is she not?” I giggle.
Ezra smiles with his whole face. How handsome a smile. Christian’s smiles are rare and unexpected, like summer snow. It makes them all the more special.
“Your sister is an utter ass.” He is unsmiling. “She is not welcome in our home, unless she changes her attitude.”
“I can hear you, Princess.” Marionna says from behind us.
“I am sure you can, sweetheart.” He tells her.
“I hope Christian does not agree with you. He will have the final say.” I change the subject. “How will you find the Eriksons? No one knows anything about them.”
“I am a Beaumont.” Ezra boasts. “We know everything about anything. I can find them at their lair in Nottingham forest.”
“The haunted forest?”
“Who do you think started the rumor so long ago?” He chuckles. “It was them.”
“It is Beaumont land, is it not?”
“Eldred Erikson is kin to us.” He whispers. “My ancestor wed into his tribe, and we are allies. They are not Christians either, but we do share beliefs. One of them is that the Bloodtakers will never have permission to slaughter whole villages at will and crucify for fun. Those days are behind us where they shall remain.”
“Does your brother not slaughter Villages also?” Marionna speaks up again.
Ezra ignores her. “Anyone caught harboring or giving aid to rebels who disobey our laws will be put to death. It is a risk they all take. We will always protect mankind from invaders.”
“What were you doing in that fishing town?” I wonder, thinking back on it. “I did not know you own a brothel.”
“This is a whorehouse.” Marionna sniffs with disdain.
“It is an inn.” He corrects us. “I was here meeting Christian.”
It is spy business. He does not say it, because he knows I understand. I feel like family when he trusts me with family secrets.
“I am love sick without him.” I do not have to hide my feelings from Ezra. “What if he does not want me there?”
“I want you there.” He pats my hand. “It is my home too, and I can bring home whomever I please. You and the child belong with us.” Then he says. “It seems a lot has happened since you were away. The Antonov seems quite fond of you.”
“Please do not tell Christian.”
“I had no plans to do so. He will kill Ramsay Antonov over you.”
“He treated me well. We were on our way to the palace to see Christian. Had your brother turned me away, I would have gone home with him.”
Ezra laughs for a full minute. “Do you truly believe so?”
“Yes, I trust him.”
“Why were you traveling south toward Ramsay’s home, instead of north where the palace is?” He questions. “The Antonovs are wild and well-known bride snatchers.”
“What?” I gasp in anger.
“You were being stolen, my dear sister.” He laughs again. “You are so naïve.”
“Ramsay would not do that.”
“My sister is beautiful, but I fear she lacks in intelligence.”
“Shut up, Marionna.” I snap at her. “I was under duress.”
“He was under your dress, you mean?” She snorts.
“How was I to know I was being kidnapped?”
“Did you bother to look at the position of the sun? Were you so blinded by his manly beauty that you did not notice the sky was on the wrong side of the sky?”
“Maybe.” I mutter guiltily.
“There were many before you. Do not look so sad.” Ezra tips his wine bag as we pass another cart. “Most women consider it an honor to be stolen by an Antonov.”
“How long before we reach the palace?” I ask him.
“Nine days, ten if we run into trouble.”
Ramsay said it would take three maybe four weeks! That sneaky rake. I smile in amusement. I probably would have come around to him in time and began to enjoy our marriage. I was already willing to accept him if I could not have Christian.
“Why would he steal me?”
“Because there is no way in hell Christian will let you leave once you are back in the palace. Ramsay knows that. He had no other choice if he wanted to keep you.”
“Why does Christian hate his wife?”
“Because she is not you.”
“Her jealousy and the way she degraded your name drove him mad. I wanted to slap her a few times myself for some of the things she said.” He frowns. “She died mysteriously without witnesses, but we have our suspicions.”
I do not ask what kind of things she said because it will only upset me more. At least her nastiness did not go unchecked. He killed her. It should frighten me, but I know how he is. They do not call him the Butcher of Beaumont because he carves steaks. He carves people.
“I need you to remain calm when I tell you this.” His voice lowers. “We are being followed.” He lays his hand on the hilt of his sword. “No, do not turn around, or they will know that I see them. We will wait to see what they want.”
It is hard to pretend I am not being followed when whoever it is probably wants me dead. I grow quiet as I wait to see who they are and what they want. We left under the cover of night and no one knew who we were. How was I found?
“If they attack, run Mae. Run, and do not stop until you cannot run anymore.” He nods his head. “Take her with you. Hopefully they will look over Elizabeth-Ann.”
“And leave you behind?” I ask Ezra in dismay.
“Hell yes.” Marionna exclaims. “Let the Princess sacrifice herself for the greater good.”
Ezra ignores her once again. “I have lived to manhood. My brother’s child has not. There is a sword under you. Take it and save yourself.”
How can I run away like a coward and leave him to die? Too many have suffered for me already. Too many have died. We are deep in the forest where wild things prowl. There is no one to come to our aid if we are overtaken by our enemies. This is a magical place where trees are king. The sun steals spaces between the dense foliage to shine on the forest floor. Birds sing and insects chirp in response. It is a beautiful place to die.
Show yourselves, you bastards. I would rather fight than sit here unknowing. There is a rustle in the brush ahead of us before several men break cover, charging at us with their wild hair and painted faces. Their war cry becomes the air as they run. Ezra stands and draws his sword. He is puzzled when they run past us. There is another cry from a different group when they clash behind us.
“Hide in the woods until I come for you.”
He jumps down and joins in the fray. I grab the sword and do the opposite of running. I tap into my inner Butcher, channeling his fearlessness and skill. I think about my child, and I kill. I hack and chop and sing my own battle cry. Marionna is beside me. My face is dripping blood which burns my eyes. My sword slips in my bloody hand, but I hold tight and continue to do what I have to do. I kill too many to count. She kills even more. I do not stop until the last man is still in death. I stand alone with my head bent and my chest heaving. I am disappointed when I find the enemy has fallen. My sword is thirsty. My arms are not tired. I have more kills in me.
“You do not listen and will make a terrible queen.” Ezra says prying the sword from my hand. “But a perfect wife.” He smiles.
“I believe that is the greatest compliment that anyone has ever bestowed upon me, Prince.”
His smile turns into a laugh. I laugh with him. How odd for us to be surrounded by bodies and laughing this way. One of the woodsmen approaches us. His white paint is smeared with sweat and streaked with the blood of the fallen.
“You are welcome by our fire, Mae Payne.”
I am surprised to hear my name on his lips. “How do you know who I am, Woodsman?”
“It was Michael Uao, who recognized you. Said he saw you once when the Butcher executed Rumi Widowmaker. We meant to rob you, until he spoke up.”
“We accept your hospitality.” I tell him before Ezra can refuse.
“There could be more of them coming. We should get off the road. Your journey will be quicker on foot.”
His long hair is in several matted braids and his dark eyes are set into a strong face. Not one that I would describe as handsome, but it is not unpleasant to look at either.
“I will get your sister and our things from the cart.”
“The Christian man is not welcome by my fire, but he can camp in the woods.”
“I understand that.” I shrug. “I thank you for your offer, but I will camp with him.”
I will not tell them that Ezra is a Beaumont, or they will turn their weapons on him.
“We cannot leave you in the woods after what happened on the road today.” The woodsman frowns. “It is our duty to protect you.”
“He is a brother to me.”
“He is not.” Marionna disagrees. “The man will be fine on his own.”
I roll my eyes heavenward. If she is not the most disagreeable sister ever...
The Woodsman frowns. “Fine.” He relents. “Bring him, but I will kill him if he returns with his army. This forest has been our home for hundreds of years.”
“Your secret is safe with us.” I promise.
“I am Michael Diac.” He motions to another man nearby. “That is my cousin, Michael.”
So strange are their names, and I will later learn that most of the boys are named Michael. It confuses the enemy. I expected tents or mats on the ground. I did not expect to be lifted into the treetops, or the intricate homes that I find there. Homes linked by swinging brides and unseen from the forest floor so far below. Beth-Ann, Marionna, and I are given our own small dwelling to share. It is up here amid the cool shade, and sweet breeze when she awakens.
“Mae!” She tries to sit up. “You are covered in blood. What happened? Are you injured?”
I ease her back down on the soft bed and press a wet cloth to her forehead.
“Easy.” I warn her. “You are still weak. Your tea was poisoned, and we were attacked after we escaped an abduction.”
“Who is he?” She nods her head. “Where are the Antonovs?”
“We were separated, and they went their own way. This is Ezra Beaumont. Christian’s brother. He will take you to your Winn.”
“Why did you not tell me that he had brothers?” She demands. “Or that they look like him?”
I would laugh if our situation were not so dire. Ezra has no such reserve and he does.
“She is cute. I like this one better.”
Marionna mumbles something rude and goes back to sharpening her blade. It is when Elizabeth-Ann notices her. She shakes her head to clear her blurry vision.
“Am I dreaming?”
“No.” Ezra informs her. “This nightmare is your long-lost sister, Marionna.”
“Sister?” Elizabeth gasps. “Twins!” She cries.
“Mother never spoke a word of you. Where have you been all this time?”
“Running.” Marionna replies.
“Why have you returned now? Is it for revenge?”
“So pretty.” Marionna shakes head sadly, “and yet so dumb.”
“Excuse me?”
“I called you dumb.” She repeats. “Why would I harm my own blood? You are a fool.”
“And you are rude!” Elizabeth-Ann is not used to being insulted. “You were raised by infidels. It shows in your manners.”
“And you are a rotten bitch. It shows in your treatment our sister.”
“I have been by her side since she was a babe.”
“You nearly killed her to be pretty again.” Marionna gives Beth-Ann a dirty look. “I do not trust you.”
“We should not trust you. Who knows who sent you here. You could be an assassin.”
“I am an assassin.” Marionna smiles. “Do not fuck with me, or my sister because I am a master at what I do, Elizabeth-Ann.”
We stare at her as we take in her admission. An Assassin? She kills people? Wait a minute. I kill people. Damn. I get a chill that makes my teeth chatter. Marionna is me, if I was someone else. A soft smile touches my lips. She is my unlikely hero.
“You are the sensible sister, Elizabeth-Ann. I know which of you to court.”
“She is married, Ezra.”
“It has never stopped me before.” He smiles rakishly. “The married ones are my favorite.”
“Why is that, Milord?” Elizabeth-Ann bats her lashes at him.
“Because they do not expect me to marry them after I take them to my bed.”
Her smile falls. “You, Sir, are a cad.”
Marionna’s laughter is loud and boisterous. I chuckle because she is so damn rude. Ezra frowns at her and grinds his teeth. She is going to push him too far, and I will have to stop them from killing each other.
“I am a cad? And what are you? A married woman, batting her pretty eyes at me, when she has a husband somewhere is asking for it.” Ezra adjusts the bulge in his hose.
Marionna blinks three times in a row. Elizabeth-Ann licks her lips.
“You are terrible.” She shakes her head at him.
He chuckles. “I am worse than that, beautiful.” He runs his hand through his dark hair. “I am a Beaumont Prince.”
“A Prince.” She whispers dreamily. Ezra smiles.
