| |
My battles started the next morning. I got up early to throw knives, knowing already that it would be a hard day. Before I could make it inside, Martin came out and found me. “Good morning, Joan.”
“Good morning,” I said softly.
“How are you?”
I didn’t speak, waiting to see what happened. He wasn’t out here for good morning greetings.
“Joan, I want to talk, that’s all,” he said when he realized I wasn’t going to respond.
I locked myself into position. “Sir, unless it’s about professional matters, I’d rather not discuss anything.”
He looked sad. “Why, Joan?” He reached for me and I stepped back. “Have I done something? Is this about...”
Before he could get it out, I heard Mari’s call. We both turned to look and we saw Mari and Cathy at the window. Cathy was hurriedly motioning me up. “I have to go,” I said, turning away.
He was silent as I left him and hurried up to the room. “Is something wrong?” I asked, panting slightly as I came to a stop. Cathy was still in her nightgown, but Mari was already dressed.
“Charlene will be here soon,” Mari said frantically. “And I can’t find my ring!”
I blinked. “You called me up here to find a ring?”
Mari looked agitated. “But it’s from Mom and Dad! It has a diamond and two rubies on either side and it was a birthday present and Charlene said I couldn’t lose it!”
I stared a minute, then blew out a sigh. “Where have you looked?”
“It’s not in her jewelry box,” Cathy spoke up. “We looked there.”
“When did you last wear it?” I asked.
Mari thought, bouncing on her toes in agitation. “Last week.”
“So why are you just now worrying about it?”
“Because Charlene wants me to wear the ring with this outfit!”
“So wear a different outfit!”
This wasn’t helping Mari calm down. She just kept giving me a panicked, beseeching look.
“Where did you take the ring off?”
“I don’t remember!”
“Did you take it off at night?”
She nodded after a moment. “I think so.”
“So we’re sure it’s in here.”
They both nodded.
“Mari, search the closet. Cathy, search the bed and under the bed.” I went to the other corner of the room and searched the floor, inch by inch. Mari searched the pockets of her clothes, and Cathy unmade the bed, then remade it, then looked under it.
“It’s not here!” Mari wailed, starting to panic more.
“Keep looking,” I ordered. “Cathy, check the desk.” I continued my sweep of the floor.
Mari dived into the bottom of her armoire, looking through everything when I heard a knock on the door. Cathy froze and I stood as Charlene entered.
“Found it!” Mari crowed triumphantly. She stopped, eyes wide as she left the closet. She hadn’t heard Charlene’s knock.
“Found what, Princess Mari?” Charlene asked.
“She dropped her ring,” Cathy lied quickly. “She was showing it to us and she dropped it.”
Charlene seemed to believe Cathy and turned her lofty gaze on me as Mari slipped the ring on her finger. “Guardswoman, I believe I can handle everything from here.”
It was a dismissal, but I hesitated.
“Guardswoman, leave,” Charlene ordered, her tone daring me to defy her.
“Charlene, I don’t believe you have the right to order me out of my own room,” I said frostily, noting with satisfaction that her face turned pink. Cathy grabbed her clothes and disappeared in the bathroom, not wanting to be in the middle of the blooming confrontation. Mari had nowhere to go except her closet, and I saw her move back to it, taking care to organize everything inside while hiding behind the ornately carved door.
“I take care of Princess Mari,” Charlene snapped, losing her cool. “I’m in charge of her; you’re only in charge of her safety.”
“I don’t see how I have detracted from your duties.”
“I am in charge of how the princess dresses, getting her to her studies, and how she spends her time,” Charlene said, visibly working to keep her volume under control. “I don’t need you to complicate my duties by encouraging her to disobey me or trying to take over my duties.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the bathroom door inch open. “Mari,” I said, “Go let Cathy fix your hair.”
Mari ran for the bathroom and the door closed again.
“Are you serious?” I demanded. “How have I complicated your duties?”
“You encourage her to disobey me!” Charlene snapped.
“How?”
“I ordered Mari to study the history of Geidy, and not ten minutes later, I find she is gone!”
I narrowed my eyes. “Ten minutes? You didn’t know she was gone until hours later! Where were you, Governess?” I said, putting an emphasis on the title. “The time outside with the townspeople is important and good for her. Ordering her to study something that she isn’t supposed to have done for another week or two isn’t going to make her respect you.”
Charlene looked absolutely furious. “Don’t lecture me, Guardswoman,” she hissed. “I need nothing from you! I was doing this job perfectly well before you came.”
“Then quit trying to prove something,” I snapped. “Focus on Mari’s well-being and not whether or not she likes me better than you or whether she’ll obey you or me first.”
Charlene suddenly changed tactics and took the low route. “You’re simply jealous because Martin chose me over you, so you’re trying to replace him by making sure that Princess Mari chooses you over me.” She looked condescending and superior. “It’s so sad that you can’t handle rejection.”
It took all I had to keep an even tone, but my temper had been lit. “This is not about Martin; this is about Mari. If you think I’m going to let you run off her friends, you’re mistaken. I’m going to make sure she goes out to practice with them every day, and I dare you to try and use Martin to stop me.” I didn’t quite manage to maintain that even tone; the challenge was clear.
There was another knock on the door and Tatum entered. “Ah, Guardswoman Joan, Governess Charlene.” He pretended to be oblivious to the obvious tension. “Where is Princess Mari?”
“She’ll be right out,” I said, breaking the silence first. I knocked on the bathroom door and opened it. “Mari, time for lessons. Cathy, stay out of the way and stay out of trouble.” Then I left.
Randall caught me before I made it to the cellar. “Joan? You’re pale.”
I swallowed hard. “Not here.” That was all I could say without my voice betraying my emotions.
He followed me down to the cellar. There, I blurted it all out, managing to drive the tears away with anger. “I don’t know what to do,” I said, voice raw. “I don’t know what to say, I don’t know how to act, and Charlene keeps rubbing it in at every turn.”
“She’s just feeling a little insecure,” Randall said, trying to make peace. “It’s hard to follow in your shadow, Joan. Give Charlene a little sympathy.”
“Sympathy? She’s the other woman! She stole Martin from me! I don’t feel any sympathy for her; I hate her guts!”
Randall sighed. “And that, Joan, is the entire problem as things stand. This is why you can’t get along.”
“I’m doing my best,” I muttered. “I didn’t go looking for a fight.”
Randall took pity on me and turned the conversation. “Have you eaten today?” When I shook my head, he took my arm. “Let’s get you something. The day will be better if you eat.”
He led me to the kitchens and charmed some food from Norma while I watched with a small smile. “Your wife will be jealous.”
“No,” Randall said dismissively. “My wife knows that I would never go too far. I have her to keep me in line, and Norma’s husband as well.” We both smiled at this. Norma’s husband was a smith, a towering six-foot-ten with muscles to rival any bodybuilder.
Randall walked me down to the guardroom. I started dressing in my uniform, feeling a little calmer just putting it on. I liked being a guard. I liked the others and I liked working with them. Most of them were very easy to get along with, and the rest we’d worked out a type of respect between us that we could at least get along if we tried.
“Hi, Joan,” Liam said. “Missed you last night.”
“Wasn’t hungry, and I had unpacking to do,” I said, attaching my knife at my waist so I wouldn’t have to look him in the eye. “What’s the schedule today?”
“You’re with me,” Neal said. “East wall, center station, regular shift.” A regular shift was six hours. A short shift was three hours and a long shift was ten to twelve hours. “We start at nine.”
I nodded. “I assume if I’m called away you can handle it?”
He rolled his eyes.
“Hey, I haven’t seen you in months, Neal! For all I know, you’ve gotten rusty since the war ended.”
He gave me an indignant look as the others chuckled. “We’re the Elite Guard,” he said in a lofty tone. “We don’t lose our edge just because there isn’t daily fighting.”
“If you say so,” I murmured, fighting a smile.
“And what does that mean?” he demanded.
I gave an innocent look. “What does what mean?”
“What you said!”
“Which statement?”
He gave an exasperated look as the others laughed now. “Are you implying that I have lost my edge?” he inquired.
I kept my innocent look. “Did I say that?”
He grinned slowly, finally understanding my challenge. “Oh, you’re on, Joan! The minute you’re off shift, you and I are going to have it out! No weapons!”
The others shouted gleefully. “Ten bucks says Neal!”
“Thirty says Joan.”
“Forty says Joan within ten minutes.”
“Oh, yeah? Well, fifty says Neal within eight minutes!”
“Two hundred says Joan in a minute and a half,” Randall announced.
The room got quiet in momentary shock as they stared at him.
“Anyone want to take it?” Randall asked.
Pinkeye stared at me doubtfully. “I will.” He shook on it. “No offense, Joan,” he added. “I realize you probably have some aggression, but I can’t see you taking one of us down in a minute and a half.”
I knew what Randall was betting on. “No offense taken.” I looked to Neal. “No hard feelings if I win, right?”
Neal chuckled. “You won’t win, Joan. You just don’t have the training we do.”
I almost laughed but I swallowed it. I couldn’t manage to swallow the smirk.
“I don’t know about that,” Landon protested. “Don’t forget about last year.”
“That was with weapons,” Remy reminded him.
They kept discussing my chances at winning against Neal. Before anyone could offer another bet, I heard the door open and knew with dread who it was.
Martin stood in the doorway. His eyes met mine for a brief moment before I broke away, turning back to the locker that was mine, and placing the dog tags around my neck. They were a new addition, something that I’d been given before my departure last year. On one dog tag was my name, and the other an arrow, pointing up, to mark me as Valerian.
I pretended to focus on my hair while I could feel the gazes of the others as they looked from Martin to me. I slid a thin band over my hair to hold the loose wisps in place and turned as Martin spoke. “Change of orders,” he said, sounding no different than any other time. “Guardswoman Ilion is running short shift now. Guardsman Pierson, you’ll run long from when Ilion’s shift ends to when Guardsman Larson relieves Guardsman Kuzsova.” He glanced at each of us as he gave his orders, his gaze lingering on me. “Does everyone understand the changes?”
“Can I ask why?” Neal asked mildly.
“Orders from their highnesses. Guardswoman Ilion will need to be free in order to be sure both she and her sister are ready for the peace conference.” He moved his gaze back to me. “Do you understand the changes, Guardswoman?”
“Yes, sir,” I said blandly.
The clock tolled overhead, marking nine o’clock and the room started to empty. I tried to follow, but Martin stopped me. “Not you, Guardswoman. Their Highnesses would like to speak to you.”
I stepped back silently and waited as the rest left, not meeting their curious gazes. Then I followed Martin to the throne room. When I saw Charlene there, I realized what this was about and gave a silent sigh. My first test of my diplomatic skills.
“Guardswoman,” King Alan said sternly as the doors closed. “Governess Charlene has informed us that you incited our daughter to deliberately disobey her orders, and therefore Mari has shown a lack of respect to her governess. Do you care to explain yourself?”
I was silent for a moment, aware Martin was listening to my every word. “Your Highness,” I said slowly. “I believe Charlene was simply unaware of the circumstances. It was one o’clock and the townspeople were here to practice with Mari, and I learned that if Mari wasn’t there, then the townspeople’s children wouldn’t be able to practice. Tatum had only given Mari five chapters to study, and she studied eight. Since Charlene was unaware of this, I didn’t see the harm in allowing Mari to go practice.”
“But I wasn’t informed of this,” Charlene said, voice smooth. “I didn’t know where Princess Mari was or if she had completed her lessons. Also, it is my decision on how Princess Mari spends her time, is it not, Your Highness?”
“It is,” Florinda agreed.
I knew then that Charlene would use this to never let Mari out again and quickly searched for a way to have them command Charlene to let Mari go.
“I don’t see how practicing her archery would benefit Princess Mari more than her studies,” Charlene said. “Especially since she also has much to prepare for in order to go to the peace conference.”
“Aren’t a queen’s duties first and foremost to her people?” I asked. “By interacting with the other children, she is learning vital lessons and important social skills. More so, she’s getting to know her people, becoming one of them. It’s more than just archery practice, Your Highness, and if it also benefits the townspeople, surely letting Mari go and practice for an hour or two can’t hurt her, especially if her lessons are complete. A break from constant studying would help Mari more than it would hurt her. She’s still a child and deserves a chance to be one for a little longer.”
Florinda and Alan exchanged glances. “I agree with you, Guardswoman,” Alan said finally. “Our daughter will go practice with the townspeople. If she is failing in her studies, then of course she will have to stay until Tatum is satisfied with her progress, but I believe that being around other people will strengthen our daughter as a ruler, and that is the purpose of her studies.”
I felt elated although I tried not to show it. Now Charlene was required to let Mari go. Point one: Ilion.
“Of course, Your Highness,” Charlene murmured, curtseying.
“Return to your duties,” King Alan commanded us. We all curtseyed or bowed then left the room.
I didn’t wait to see if Charlene would complain to Martin or if he would try to speak to me; I almost ran away from both of them, going straight to my post on the east wall.
“What did their majesties want?” Neal inquired when I got there. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
“Working out some details about Mari’s schedule.”
He thought about that, eyeing me. “Who won? You or Charlene?”
“Mari won.”
“Good for you,” he said. He shifted his weight. “Do you really think you can take me in a minute and a half?”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Neal Kuzsova.”
“Come on, Joan. A minute and a half? Do you really think I can’t hold out longer than that? I’m hurt that Randall doesn’t think I’ll hold out longer than that!”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” I repeated. “My life was hard and yours, well, wasn’t. I realize it takes strength and dedication to be a member of the Elite Guard, but I grew up fast in a hard world and all I had for back-up was me and no one else.” I offered a wry smile. “I’m sure you’re an excellent fighter, Neal, I just think I have an edge.”
“I’m not going to take it easy on you,” he warned.
“Good,” I said with feeling. “Don’t.”
I’d been on the wall two hours when I saw Tatum leave. “I’ll be right back,” I told Neal. “I have to take care of something real fast.”
He nodded and I took off, calling to Tatum.
“Ah, Guardswoman. Lessons are finished for the day, except for what Mari must study for tomorrow,” Tatum reported when I caught up.
“Tatum, if I may make a suggestion,” I said. “Write down Mari’s lessons that she needs to have finished for the day, and for the week.”
“A good idea, Guardswoman,” Tatum said after a moment. “Perhaps then Princess Mari’s studies will be less erratic.”
“Have they been erratic?”
He nodded, looking slightly annoyed. “She’ll complete her assignments, then I return to find that she has studied the next five chapters ahead of what I had planned in one subject, but not the others.”
I swallowed back the biting remark I was close to making. “Set out a schedule and set it someplace where Mari and her governess and I can easily see it, so there will be no doubt as to what Mari needs to have studied.”
Tatum nodded. “An excellent suggestion,” he repeated. “I can’t believe I haven’t thought of it.”
I held my smile as I hurried back to my place on the wall. Neal gave me a look. “What?” I asked.
“Who won this time?”
I shook my head. “It’s not a fight.”
“We’re on your side.”
“It’s not a fight,” I insisted.
He gave me a sympathetic glance. “Most of us figured out last night why you’re so upset with Martin. We’re sorry Charlene moved in so fast.”
They didn’t realize that Charlene had moved in before I’d moved out. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t see the point in marring Martin’s reputation. It still hurt and it wasn’t going to make anything better.
“Can I ask why you broke up with him?” he asked, eyes on my face.
I shook my head. “I’d rather not talk about it,” I said, facing the east, focusing on the wind bringing a little relief to the rising temperature.
We stood the rest of the hour in silence until the bell rang and Pierson and his crossbow came to relieve me. I nodded and left, brooding silently.
“Hey, Joan!” Neal called.
I turned.
“There’s no way you’re beating me tonight!”
I smiled. “You keep thinking that.” Then I disappeared down the stairs.