My heart is on vibrate as we float down the lazy river. We say nothing and I follow her lead with trying to appear as casual as possible. The river loops around and we are now coming into the main pool. We both walk up to the steps where the lounge beds are and to our luck no one is there this morning, and fortunately some towels drape over the chairs to dry. Rosaleen walks up and casually grabs a towel and hands it to me to dry off. She takes a second one for herself, taking her time with patting herself dry.
She asks me, “So how was your breakfast?” While leaning over and towel drying her hair. She is trying to settle my nerves and make us blend in. No one is here, but it does not mean that there are not ears that could hear us in the vicinity. There are open windows to the nearby rooms, guards are patrolling the wall from above and there could be people out enjoying the nearby gardens on their morning stroll. We dry off and casually walk down the garden pathways and around the castle wall to the side where Jodis' window is. Luckily, the only people who are outside are the guards and they take little to no interest at all because we look like any of the other women who use the pool. Jodis' window is open, and we each take a quick glance of our surroundings, no one is watching, and we enter through the window.
The room is empty, and Jodis’ door is closed, but not locked. Rosaleen whispers to me, “You know we could wash up.”
I feel comfortable, my heart is back to a normal rhythm and clearly, we are not on the radar, “I am okay with that.” Jodis' room, like many of the rooms within this castle has its own suite and we each take turns showering and then dressing in her clothes, each of us picking a comfortable dark colored simple shirt and pant. The knives that are around our wrists are concealed.
After a while, Rosaleen paces the room, “What do you want to do to pass the time?”
“I should show you the passage I found by accident.” I suggest.
“Good idea.” I show her the secret entrance. We slip through and walk along the corridor, blindly and in a whisper, I tell her, “The other end opens to the wall of the serpentine stairway that leads to the King’s chambers.”
She stops me with placing her hand gently on my forearms. “You know what this means right?”
“That we have direct access to Wolfrim?” I answer unsure on where she is going with this.
“That’s given. This is a passageway for lovers. Their bedrooms connect. You know what this means right?” Rosaleen explains but looks as though she has already been defeated.
“Rosaleen it's not like that, Jodis isn't on his side. She’s on yours.” I try to assure her, but in the back of my mind, I am starting to question my own instincts.
Rosaleen says, “I knew Wolfrim had women, and I figured these passageways existed. I have discovered my fair share while living here all these years, but the two passages, this one and the one in the pool that you have shown me I had no idea they existed. I do consider Jodis a friend, but I had no idea she engaged in King Wolfrim's romps and that makes me worry.” She admits.
“Jodis can't be on his side. Everything happened so fast. There would have been no time for plans to be devised. She chose to help me to bring justice for you. There was no way that she was letting me go to reel you in.”
“You believe that, and I want to believe that you’re right. Let's just play it safe and we will remain here in hiding until either one of them makes an appearance.” Rosaleen says.
“Okay” I whisper.
We wait in the darkness and take turns on listening at either end of the tunnel, then checking back with each other; it becomes a bit of a routine.
“Rosaleen, can I ask you something?”
“Sure, go on.”
“Where is your bedroom?” I ask in a whisper.
“It’s at the opposite end of the castle in one of the towers.” She answers.
“Are there any secret passageways to and from your room?”
“No there isn't any however, my room does have lofty ceilings, so I do have a staircase that leads up to an indoor balcony, and I also have a bathroom, walk in closet and a den. The only thing that comes remotely close to a passageway is one of the tower windows, if you lean out and over you can see that in the brickwork, the masons created footholds that lead to the ground for a quick escape. I have never had to use them.” As she is speaking, I can hear the faint sounds of a door thumping shut and our conversation takes a halt. Rosaleen hears it too.
In a whisper, Rosaleen says, “I think that was from Jodis' room. Let’s go check.” I tiptoe and follow her to the end of the passage. Rosaleen opens the secret door for a glimpse into the room; with a startle, she jumps back onto me. The passage opens.
“You two weren’t discreet when taking up residence in my room; as soon as I entered, I knew you had returned.” Jodis gives Rosaleen and then me a hug.
Rosaleen admits, “It's been way to long Jodis, I should have brought you on my tour.”
“No, you were right to leave me here, and everything for the most part has gone well.” She assures Rosaleen.
“Jodis, I had no idea you were one of King Wolfrim’s personal assistants? You should have told me.”
Jodis smiles shyly, “Some things are better left not said; anyway, we have to focus on what lies ahead.” Jodis continues, “Wolfrim uses that passageway so hiding there isn't a promising idea if your plan is an ambush. He always has two guards that will be with him. They don't go through the passage, but instead, they will go from guarding his chamber doors and walk down the hallways to guard mine. They never come in unless they are called in. So right now, you have three people to deal with, King Wolfrim and his two guards. The options as I see it are, we can ambush him here in my room, or we can try to get into his room un-detected and surprise him there.”
Rosaleen interrupts, “We will do it here.”
Jodis says with a smile, “Well in that case we will need to hide you here and not in the passageway and then when he cries out for his guards, we need to deal with them quickly.”
Rosaleen says, “Where can we hide?”
“Taylan can hide underneath the bed, and you can hide in the closet, or vice versa.”
Rosaleen says, “I want Taylan to be the ambusher, should anything go wrong she will be the one who will pay the crime.” She is ready to do away with me so easily. Rosaleen elaborates as though she is reading my mind, “This is what I was talking to you about on those first nights on the ship; you have to trust me on this.”
“Okay” I have no choice.
Jodis asks, “Do you have weapons?”
“Yes, we each have concealed daggers.” Rosaleen confirms.
Jodis adds, “Now that I think about it, Wolfrim also has a concealed blade, but that shouldn't be an issue because we can have you two waits until he makes himself more comfortable. His clothes will be on the floor so; we will need to pay attention, we can't let him get in reach of his blade.”
“Good point.” Rosaleen agrees.
Jodis hurries us “Let’s get you out of sight before he comes.” With her warning, Rosaleen and I move to our spots and wait while Jodis gets ready for her evening with the King. This day has been full of waiting, but I welcome it because it buys me time to prepare mentally. I am on my stomach under the bed resting my eyes while fully conscious of my surroundings. Rosaleen is in her spot and Jodis is brushing her now dark blue hair while sitting on the bed and looking out at the evening sky waiting. I open my eyes to the sound of the passageway door opening. He walks in saying nothing. I can't see him fully because I am peering through a bed skirt that I dare not lift. All I can see is the outline of his figure. I know that it is Wolfrim. I wonder how such a chubby man can fit through the passage.
In a flirtatious voice Jodis says, “Oh, my king I am so happy that you have come to visit me tonight.”
In a friendly tone that I have not heard from him, which I would have never expected he answers, “Are you now? Tell me why?” He asks. Surprisingly, he seems good, relaxed maybe even happy?
“Because, I have been thinking about you all day,” Jodis confides. I see his clothes start to drop piece by piece to the floor; one foot followed by the other leaves the floor to the bed.
“What have you been thinking about, tell me?” I hear him say.
“I was thinking about just how good you are to me.” She answers in an intoxicatingly sweet voice.
He has a booming laugh that is startling, “It is you that is good to me.” They are both on the bed and this is my queue. I first drag his clothes under the bed so that there isn't a chance he can conveniently pick up his weapon. I creep out from the foot of the bed; his back is towards me. I come from behind and scoop my blade around his neck, holding it so that it is touching his throat.
Unwavering I say, “Stop” he is more surprised than anything. He gets off Jodis who gets up and backs away to the closet where Rosaleen is concealed.
“I should have known that you were still here and to think that my little pet was involved. I should have known; you got away with hiding too easily.” Wolfrim says with laugh while glaring at Jodis.
“So, what are you going to do girl? Are you going to kill me?” He dares.
Rosaleen emerges from hiding and in her booming voice says, “I think we should. You killed my father; a life for a life, I think is fair?”
He turns his head slightly towards Rosaleen's voice, his words directed at me, “Ah I see, so that's where you ran off to, if I were to guess, I would have assumed Taylan, that you had ran off to find your friend Sitrus.” Wolfrim smiles, knowing that he has my attention and continues, “Oh my, you thought that I didn't know about your little friend?” Stay focused, I repeat silently to myself, I stay quiet, but my anger is building up.
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Rosaleen holds her ground addressing him, “Be reminded that I can do anything I want now and there is nothing you can do.”
He answers unbothered, “You could, but you won't, you say a life for a life how about an exchange?”
Rosaleen answers, “You have lied for my entire life, and I know you are going to say anything to get out of this, your words mean nothing.” Rosaleen approaches us and she holds her blade to his throat so now hers and mine are touching his soft skin. “How dare you, kill my father and drive away my mother. What was this for?” Spitting out her words like an awful taste in her mouth.
His voice is still calm and his heartbeat steady, he says, “Yes, my dear, it was part greed, but do keep in mind your father was no angel. If he wanted me that bad to act the part and play his role, that it was mine for the taking.” Wolfrim laughs, “You know what Princess, his death was by his own sentence not mine and all I did was switch places with him.” Rosaleen stares at him long and hard, with significant effort removes her blade from his throat.
Rosaleen commands, “Jodis find something to bind his arms.” Jodis starts looking through a drawer, finds a belt from a robe and hands it to Rosaleen. She binds his arms behind him and gives me the nod; I remove my knife and hold. Rosaleen grabs a robe from Jodis and tosses it at him to cover him. Wolfrim can't really do anything, but let it drape over if he wants to stay covered.
Mockingly he says to Rosaleen, “What are you going to do Princess, you do realize if I call out there are two men standing guard outside these doors.” Rosaleen walks over to him then gags him and bends down so that they are eye to eye she says in a faint voice, “I nearly forgot, thanks for reminding me.” She returns an over confidant smile back at him.
Rosaleen asks Jodis, “Sitrus, do you know of him?”
“No, this is the first that I have heard the name.” She admits.
“You are going to tell the guards that King Wolfrim wishes to see Sitrus here and now.”
“Get off the bed.” Rosaleen says to Wolfrim, the robe falls to the floor. She looks to me, “Taylan help me take him into the washroom.” We close the door and wait, in no time Jodis quietly opens the door to the washroom and in a whisper, she informs us, “One of the guards is still standing outside the door and the other has gone to get Sitrus.”
“Okay thank you.” Rosaleen says to Jodis, “Wait out there for us?”
“Yes Princess.” She shuts the door.
The three of us wait listening. A few minutes later, there is a faint tap at Jodis' bedroom door and a deep voice says, “The prisoner, as King Wolfrim requested.”
“Thank you, could you leave him here and stand guard outside?” Jodis asks the guard.
“I am afraid I need to remain with the prisoner. It's not safe.” We can hear the guard say to Jodis. They are just outside the washroom.
“Okay, the king is just washing up; I will let him know that you have arrived.” We all back away from the door and Jodis carefully slips in, closing the door behind.
Her voice is a frantic whisper, “Rosaleen the guard won't leave what should I do?”
“Is it just one guard and Sitrus?” Rosaleen asks.
“Yes” Jodis says, “The bedroom door is closed and there is still one guard outside.”
“Taylan stay here with Wolfrim, I will talk to the guard.” Rosaleen leaves me alone with him. His over confidence is evaporating quickly and being replaced with anger which is starting to fester. I turn my ear to the closed door and listen.
I can hear the guard’s confused voice, “My Princess, what are you doing here?”
“I returned today and wished not a grand entrance. That man that you are keeping captive I command you to release him.”
“My princess, I am afraid that I can't, I am under strict command from the king and have been instructed to take orders from him only.”
In a calm voice Rosaleen answers “I understand,” than calls to me, “Taylan come out with Wolfrim.”
I turn to Wolfrim who is staring at me with his hands still behind him. I command, “Let's go.” He doesn’t move and feeling rather annoyed, I don't want to have to waste my strength on him to drag him out before everyone. To be honest, I am starting to feel the drain on my body especially having only eaten this morning. He is defiantly standing his ground, “What is your problem? Let's go!” I step closer to him, reaching for his arm. He dodges my grasp, pushing me hard and I fall to the ground. Before I can get to my feet, he has the rope that bound his hands around my throat and pulls me up to my feet. My hands are working to pull it off.
He whispers through his teeth into my ear, “No one rules me, do you understand?”
I choke the words out, “Yes” and a couple of tears escape, trickling down my face.
He opens the door for us to meet everyone. Instinctively Rosaleen starts to come to my aid. Sitrus tries to break out of the guard’s grasp and Jodis backs herself to the doors of her room. Her instincts are telling her to run, but Jodis is frozen.
Wolfrim’s booming voice startles Rosaleen into an unwanted halt, “Don't take another step, or it will be the last of this little pet of yours.” Sitrus also stops struggling with the guard even though the order wasn’t for him. “You listen to me; I have worked too hard to lose everything to a spoiled little brat, guards, GUARDS!” He yells for the one standing out in the hall, the knob twists; the only thing about Jodis being frozen with fear is that she at least has control of herself to remain as a barrier. She uses all her weight to keep the other guard from entering her room. Rosaleen starts toward the door and Wolfrim starts up again with his commanding voice, “Rosaleen don't move. Jodis let him in.” Jodis stops struggling with the door not wanting to be the cause for me getting hurt. The guard pries the door open and hesitates when he sees that the princess is causing trouble. “Seize her!” Wolfrim commands to the reluctant guard. Rosaleen holds both her blades firmly and ready to put up a fight. He has a sword to combat her.
Wolfrim shouts, “Rosaleen don't be stupid, this is over.” Rosaleen takes a couple of steps back; the guard slowly advances. I get the feeling that the guard does not want to hurt Rosaleen however, he is stuck having to obey his King. Everything that we have been working towards is lost and I don't see a way out, but Rosaleen is going out with a fight and Sitrus and I can't do anything, it is over for us, and I know that Wolfrim is going to do away with me if Rosaleen doesn’t comply.
A flash crosses my vision; the guard that was taking on Rosaleen lowers his sword; Rosaleen stops and looks at the guard. He looks down at his chest, a blooming blood flower, with a dagger handle for the center, emerging from his chest; he looks at Rosaleen with red in his eyes, raises his sword and takes a final lunge at her screaming, "Why?" Sitrus breaks away from the other guard's grasp and dives, pushing Rosaleen out of the way, but is struck down from the attacking guard’s final effort. Sitrus hits the ground hard, and I feel the vibrations in my chest from my own screaming, but I hear nothing, only ringing in my ears. I am not sure how, but I fall to my knees and crawl over to where Sitrus lies, not knowing, or caring at his point where the king is, or anyone else for that matter. Sitrus is in pain. There is so much blood. A fight is going on around me, but I don't care. I take off my pants to use as a bandage and try to remove the sword from him. It is only making it worse, and I can't stop the tears.
"Hang on.” I tell him, as I struggle to help, but he doesn’t listen, I can see him starting to slip away. At this point, I shred the pants with one of my blades. He is on his side, and he reaches out and touches my forearm. I stop, catching him looking at me with those eyes that can see into my soul.
He whispers, "It is okay," I gaze into his beautiful eyes not wanting to give up on him, but again he says in the faintest voice, "Just hold me." I lie on my side facing him and holding him close, feeling his heartbeat and smelling the faint scent of his breath. He is going to sleep. I can’t do anything. He shivers and I hold him ever so close to keep him as warm as I can. He asks, "Taylan?"
"Yes" I whisper.
"I will be with you always." He closes his eyes, and I feel him fade away, but I don't let go. I close my eyes to the chaos around me and imagine him alive and well. The day we first met, sleeping by his side, our time at Newlyn's beach and when I had tried to escape, and he found me. All of this happened in a fleeting time, but I felt that I had known him forever, perhaps in a past life. I love him.
Time stands still. Eventually a gentle hand rests on my shoulder, "Taylan, he is free." Ashlea says. My eyes are sore, and I look around the room, Ashlea and Soolena are here. One of their blades must have hit the guard. Sitrus had gotten in the middle when the guard was after Rosaleen. King Wolfrim is also laying on the ground dead, another blade no doubt from either Ashlea, or Soolena. It explains how I was able to crawl over to Sitrus in the middle of all of it. The guard who was holding Sitrus captive begged for mercy and Rosaleen has granted it. Rosaleen knows the guard and Soolena keeps watch over him to prevent anything further.
Rosaleen approaches and says, "We will all miss him; there is nothing I can say to you to make this easier, just know that I am forever grateful. Sitrus saved me." She crouches down and touches his shoulder.
There are a few minutes of quiet between us as we sit there gazing at his empty shell. "I know that you won't like this, but it's the easiest way to explain to the Palace what has happened." I look at Rosaleen as she explains. My tears are dried up. "The guard and Jodis have confirmed with me that the rest of the Palace has no idea for the reason why King Wolfrim alerted the guards to keep watch of my return. The assumption was that he was just anxious to see me home and wanted to be notified immediately. Fortunately, he kept his real intentions secret, hoping that there wouldn’t be a fight. That is the good news. We can continue in keeping the truths surrounding my family secret."
I ponder and then ask, "I didn't think you would have wanted to keep the truths secret?"
She forces a smile, "I don't, but it's easier this way, either way I am the queen now. Explaining death is one thing but having to explain a death and many years of lies and deception is an entirely different matter. It's a mountain that I don't wish to move."
"I understand." I think if I were in her shoes, I would feel the same. While looking upon Sitrus’ face I ask her, "Do you have any idea how Sitrus ended up in bad company?"
The guard who begged for mercy explained, "He was reported by a man named Oden who accused him of trespassing on private property. What was peculiar with the entire thing, rather than handing out a fine, King Wolfrim moved the issue between Oden and Sitrus behind closed doors to deal with. Soon after, for reasons kept secret Sitrus was imprisoned. I had assumed that he refused to pay. None of the guards questioned the king about it." I understand now. Oden must have seen him the night Shaylo, and I had been treated to diner because I never caught a glimpse of Sitrus following us after that night. I sigh crossing my arms over my stomach and look down at him. My heart hurts.
Rosaleen continues what to do next about Wolfrim, the guard and Shaylo, "We have three that are dead. We need to explain why. This is the part that I know you won't like Taylan. It is better this way. We have decided to have Sitrus take blame for the deaths and sum it up to that his constraints weren't properly secured, He broke free and got a hold of other weapons, he attacked and killed before he was ultimately stopped. Soolena was able to put a stop to the attack by ending his life." Rosaleen is right. I am not happy about it, but I suppose this makes sense if they want to avoid questions. Rosaleen continues, "You and Ashlea can leave. Soolena can take you back. She knows the course that the ship is on." Rosaleen calls, "Soolena would you be so kind and take them back?"
"Yes, my Queen. You don't need my security?"
"No this is my Kingdom and Jodis speaks the truth, I am home now."
Soolena, Ashlea and I exit through the window of Jodis’ room. The flying suits were hidden within the passageway of the pool that leads to the ocean. It is dark and they have little to no charge left in them. We suit up in them anyway. They are drier than the clothes we are wearing. Soolena leads us along the rocky shore that leads to a foot path, and from there we walk to the pier that is near the castle. The ship is not docked there as it normally would however, there is a small boat waiting for us. We jump in and Soolena drives us back.
Once Ashlea and I are settled on board Rosaleen’s ship, Soolena leaves, returning to the Palace. Izavelle comes to see how we are.
Izavelle gently taps on our door and peeks in, "I was thinking of you both the entire time.” She approaches us quietly, like cat. “I understand that you both performed well. Taylan, showing the secret entrance was key. Ashlea, I heard from Soolena that you have a straight throw." It is obvious that Izavelle has already talked with Soolena.
Ashlea treads carefully, hoping that Izavelle’s appreciation in our help for Rosaleen and her people is enough, “Thank you for your flattery.” Ashlea looks down to her hands, takes a breath and slowly looks back up at Izavelle, “Does this mean that we fulfilled our work for Queen Rosaleen? Can we return to our home?"
I sense Izavelle is slightly disappointed and simply answers, "No, I’m sorry, but Rosaleen wishes are for the two of you to continue to serve her." I feel like I have been punched in the gut. I close my eyes to stop the tears. Izavelle does not want us to dwell on it and says, "Ladies please get some rest, we have more to talk about and we will talk tomorrow." Izavelle quietly lets herself out.
Ashlea and I are beyond tired; my emotions are all over the place. I am happy to be with Ashlea again, but grieving the loss of Sitrus and feeling defeated, with all the work that I have done and risking my life for Rosaleen’s cause. We have been apart for so long, yet it feels like nothing has changed. We are still in this same predicament of not being in control of our destiny. We exchange few words, not because we are upset with one another. It is because there is nothing to say that can make this situation better, we both know how the other is feeling it's bittersweet, happy that we are reunited, but reminded that we are still missing loved ones and not free. I crawl into bed after Ashlea, nuzzle up close to her, and close my eyes. The last thoughts to run through my head are of Sitrus, his lips moving and saying those words, I will be with you always.
