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Over the course of the days until Saturday, I had to watch Martin and Charlene kiss twice more, and I hated myself more and more each time I figured out it wasn’t hurting any less. I did my best to distract myself from my jealousy, mostly by my lessons. I’d asked Remy to practice waltzing with me. After about an hour of waltzing, he’d leave and I’d study other things. Whenever I found myself dwelling on Martin and Charlene, I focused on my lessons, and whenever I had to get to the cellars, I practiced my waltzing, as if to pretend to myself that I wasn’t avoiding everyone.
I was currently down in the cellars again, sitting silently on the bench, staring into the blackness when I heard footsteps that weren’t Norma’s. They were Remy’s and he didn’t look surprised to see me. “Hey.”
I was too miserable at this point to respond.
Remy sat next to me. “Norma said you were down here.”
I shrugged. “Charlene’s driving me crazy.”
His next words were careful. “I don’t want to upset you, but why aren’t you fighting for Martin? It’s clear that he wants to make amends.”
“Really?” I asked bitingly. “Clear to whom? All I’ve seen is him making out with Charlene while she hangs on him like they’re attached at the hip.”
Remy winced. “I’d be willing to bet that he’d rather have you.”
“He’s going to have to leave her before I’ll fight for him.” I looked away. “To be honest, I’m not sure if I want him back right now.”
“Because of Martin or because of Charlene?”
“A bit of both,” I admitted. “I guess mostly Charlene. She gets under my skin like no one else, and she just...” I remembered then that Remy had been dating her and shut my mouth.
“We didn’t break up on good terms,” Remy said in amusement.
“She waves it all in front of my face,” I burst out, letting my irritation show. “She’s snide and shallow and unbelievably irritating and I can’t stand her! So why did Martin pick her?” My face flamed. I’d meant to keep my mouth shut about that.
“She’s clingy.”
I blinked. “What?”
“If you tell anyone...” he warned, his face starting to color.
“We’re not even having this conversation.”
His embarrassment cooled some. “She likes to cling. She makes you feel like you’re needed, that she needs to be saved.”
That wasn’t me. I was the one doing the saving, not being saved. I slumped lower.
“He’ll come back,” Remy assured me. “It’s clear to everyone he misses you. That’s the only reason he’s with Charlene as much as he is. And things will get worse for him. Charlene gets real snippy when she thinks she’s not being paid attention to, and Martin’s not paying attention to her.”
I stood, not wanting to dwell on this. “Not my problem. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to practice my waltzing.”
Remy stood as well, then bowed and offered his hand. “My lady?”
I looked over at him. “You haven’t gotten tired of me stepping on your feet yet?”
“I don’t remember you stepping on them today.”
“We didn’t waltz today. The orchestra was busy.”
He offered a smile, his hand still held out.
I took his hand and he moved into position in front of me. While humming a simple melody, he led me around the floor. I was getting the hang of following the simple steps without too much trouble, but then he tried a step I didn’t know and I stopped, dropping my hands. “I don’t know how to do that,” I muttered.
“Then let me show you,” Remy said patiently. “I didn’t realize you gave up so easily.”
“I don’t normally, but I feel like such an idiot for not knowing how to do this when everyone else does.”
“No one is expecting you to know anything, so anything you learn is a surprise. You’ll see; no one will expect you to be able to act like us and you’ll impress them all.” He offered his hand again and I took it. “Now, step, step, step, step, step, turn.” I stumbled and caught myself, flushing slightly, but I moved back into position and he showed me again, slower. This time I got it. “Good,” he said with a smile. We started again, and a minute later, he tried something else and he had to slow down and show me how to do it.
Norma came down as I was learning the fifth step. “Ah, the waltz. It’s been a long time since I’ve done any waltzing.”
“Do you want to take my place?” I offered. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to embarrass myself when I only know a little about one dance.”
“Waltzing is the most popular dance form and makes up most of the dancing done here,” Norma said with a smile. “As long as you know how to waltz, you’ll be fine.”
I leaned against the wall with a sigh of relief. “I’m saved! I owe somebody my firstborn child!”
Remy laughed. “You didn’t know that?”
“No! I thought I’d have to learn a bunch of different dances and be clearly ignorant in all of them.”
“Oh, no,” Norma assured me. “Just waltzing. That will be the primary dance done at all the balls. That’s why it’s so elaborate.” She turned to Remy. “I came down here to tell you that you were supposed to be on the wall ten minutes ago.”
Remy muttered a curse and took off.
Norma turned to me. “I heard you’re planning to take the day off.”
I nodded. “I need a break.”
She looked like she understood. “There’s a shop at the other end of Nottinghamshire that sells beautiful dresses. The queen is ordering some for you soon, so you might want to have an idea of what to look for. Also, just mention I sent you there and Trina will help you. She’s my sister-in-law.”
I giggled. “Your husband’s sister is a dressmaker?”
Norma smiled. “Two more opposite people you couldn’t find. Trina will like you.” She checked her watch. “You’re supposed to be on duty too.”
“No,” I sighed. “I’m supposed to be with the queen in about five minutes.”
“You’d best go then,” Norma advised. “Have fun tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Norma,” I said gratefully, heading up the stairs.
After a short discussion with the queen, and a brief request, I went to my spot on the wall and stood guard with Liam. “How’s life?” I asked him. “Sorry I’m late. Talking with the queen.”
“It’s impolite to be a name-dropper,” he said with a quick grin. “But I forgive you anyway.” He shifted, leaning against the spear in his hand. “Are you really interested in my life or was that a ‘what’s up’ from you?”
“Of course I’m interested, Liam. Your life holds great fascination for me.” I made my tone innocent and gave him a wide-eyed look with a touch of hurt that he could think otherwise.
“Well then, I will proceed to bore you with the tedious details of my life.”
I shoved him lightly. “What’s with you? You’re uncharacteristically serious and grumpy. The war’s over.”
He gave a heavy smile, dropping the façade so I could clearly see the weariness there. “We’ve all got problems, Joan.”
I rested my hand on his shoulder. “Something you want to talk about? Seriously, Liam, I’m here if you want to talk.” I was concerned; Liam wasn’t usually like this.
He shrugged. “Not something I care to discuss sober.”
“I only have short shift today,” I said simply.
He gave a sideways glance at me. “You’re the princess’s guard.”
“And there are others who can protect her for a few hours. Liam, if you think you’re the first person I’ve seen drinking, or if you think I can’t take a little time out of my life for my friends, then I need to expand my social life. Whatever is bothering you, I’d be willing to listen. And if it would make you feel better I’ll go out and drink and commiserate with you.”
A smile twitched his face. “Short shift you said?”
“I did. Give me half an hour to make sure someone’s going to cover Mari and Cathy and I’ll meet you.”
A whistle below caught my attention and I leaned over the wall. Merrill was standing there. “Stables,” he called up. “Got five of them and the deliverer this time.”
Liam’s face darkened. “Come on, Joan,” he said shortly.
“Five what?” I asked, catching up to him. “Why are we leaving our post? What’s in the stables?”
“Illegals,” he said shortly.
“As in immigrants?” I asked, curious.
“No, as in drugs. We’ve figured out recently that they’ve been hitting the castle. Our blessed squires have been busy selling or buying, most of them, and they’ve been setting up meets in the stables.”
“For how long?” My voice was grim. I had an intense hatred towards drug dealers since one had dated my best friend, Gina. He’d tried to make her use. I’d been close to losing her, closer than I wanted to think about on the darker days.
“We have a strict no-drug policy, but there’s always some. Lately the numbers have gotten higher and so we’re dealing with it here while others are trying to track down the dealer. We’ve only gotten his runners.” His voice was just as grim. “Do I need to tell you how dangerous these people are?”
I shook my head, and double checked the knives were in place. Ahead, a crowd of guards was silently gathering.
“What’s the plan?” I asked.
Martin was one of the group, and we were close enough that he heard. “They’re in the back stables. Another set of guards is at the other entrance. Fan out, cover all exits. Remy, Randall, Pierson, and I will go in.” He sent a measured glance to me. “Can you handle it?”
My voice was flat. “Not the first time I’ve been around drugs or seen a drug bust. I’m good.”
“Then you’re with me. Make your man, take him down.”
“Yes, sir.”
We didn’t say anything more as Martin gave the signal and we slipped inside the stables. The smell of fresh hay, horses, and horse manure filled the air. Merrill was in one stable, and the place was cleared of other stablehands. He met Martin’s gaze and nodded to the back and continued to tend to the pure white stallion belonging to King Alan. The tension was making the stallion anxious.
The other guards moved silently in, most of them moving to the other exits. I moved behind Randall, breathing softly as if I would tip off the people making a deal through the tiny, scarred door in front of me. Memories threatened to surface, but I forced them back and stared hard at the door. Martin had no weapon, but everyone else had a baton or at least something. Martin and I were the only ones going in without a weapon in hand.
Martin held up a hand, counting down with his fingers. As his last finger closed into a fist, he yanked the door open.
We moved inside and the people, all male, jumped to their feet and started to rabbit. Two went for the back; two came for us, trying to fight their way past. I saw that Merrill’s count had been off, because there were two left. I met the gaze of one of them, and I knew he was the new supplier. He pushed the slower one at me, and grabbed a rope ladder overhead that I hadn’t seen. I took my man down, he was too off-balance to put up much of a fight, and as I knelt on his back, I looked around for something to tie his hands with and saw Martin.
The boy he faced was clearly good at fighting. And Martin was clearly better. The boy had a knife, a long, curved blade that I knew would be wickedly sharp, but no matter how many times the boy swung it at him, he never touched Martin. His gaze was intense as he stared down the boy, and I saw the faintest hint of a tremble in the boy’s white-knuckled hands as he swung the knife again, showing that the intense gaze and the knowledge he was trapped was getting to him. Martin had been circling and with the boy’s back to the wall, he lunged, catching the boy’s arm on the backswing and with a sharp twist and jerk, sent the boy howling to his knees and the knife clattering to the floor. With a neat move, Martin spun the boy, and had the cuffs on his wrists within seconds. It was downright impressive and Martin didn’t even look strained.
“Here.” Remy came over, another set of cuffs in hands. His man was down as well, one hand cradling a broken and bloody nose, the other cuffed to a metal pole. He snapped the cuffs into place. “Where’s the last?”
“Up the ladder,” I said, right as the rope ladder came tumbling through the slot in the ceiling, the ropes slashed.
I swore and dashed out of the room, leaving Remy to deal with the man I’d taken down. “One left!” I shouted to the other guards. “He’s on the run! Upper level! Brown hair, black jacket, black shirt!”
The guards moved, going up into the first level loft to flush him out, and I stayed still and listened, thinking fast. I didn’t know the stables well enough, but I knew Martin and the others would. They’d know if there were any exits to the outside and have it covered. I knew that inside, he’d want to hide. Where would he hide here?
My eyes scanned the room, and lit on the glossy white mare that was the mate to the stallion; the queen’s horse. Most would stay away from that horse, but if he was on the run, he wasn’t worried about the sanctity of the queen’s horse. And it was prized by the queen, so few would try to kill him if he tried to ride it out.
A soft grunt let me know I was right, and Pierson’s eyes met mine. I nodded towards the stable and he approached with me. “No crossbow?” I murmured.
He flashed a tight smile as he hefted the short, wooden club, and I yanked the door open.
The supplier had moved quicker than I thought, and was bareback on the horse. He kicked her and sent her racing out. I pressed to the wall, coughing from the dust, and saw Liam standing in the doorway, long spear in hand.
I felt a shot of fear, because Liam wasn’t moving as the low-level dealer and horse bore down on him. He suddenly reversed the spear, stepped to the side, and struck the man hard in the chest, knocking him clear off as the mare charged past.
Having lost his passenger, the horse came to a stop and whickered. Merrill slipped out and took her bridle in hand, starting to soothe her while Liam stood over the groaning boy.
I moved next to Liam and touched his shoulder. “Good job,” I said quietly. “And impressive. You took him off the horse in one go.”
He looked to me, then gave a grim smile. “Among our other medieval traits, we do joust, and I am considered very good at jousting.”
Martin came forward. “Excellent job,” he said calmly as the dust started to settle. “Liam, you’ve done well. Debriefing will be in a few minutes. You’re off-duty, all of you.” His gaze scanned us. “Others will handle the rest of today’s shifts. Wait in the guardroom until I’ve debriefed you.”
“Yes, sir,” we said. I kept my tone perfectly even. So, I noticed, did Liam, but his eyes were alive with emotion. He was the first to move, turning and striding off. By the glances and the tension in the air, I knew there was something I was missing. I didn’t ask. I simply watched Liam as he disappeared out the door, and worried about him.