Courting Darkness (His Fair Assassin 4)

“That’s too bad, for you will get to wear the new fur cloak you are so fond of. And did I tell you that Beast would be going with you?”

Louise’s face lights up. “Will he? Well, then, we will be fine without you.”

I put my hands on my hips and pretend to scowl. “Is that how easily you dismiss me?”

“He is stronger than you,” she points out. “And will keep us safe.”

“Are you worried about your safety, little one? Don’t be. There are many who will take care of you. Tephanie, Tola, Aeva, half the queen’s guard. And that is just those who will be traveling with you. There are others, including the queen, who are working to keep you both safe and well.”

“What about the king?” Charlotte asks. “Does he care?”

I sometimes wish that Charlotte’s wit was not so sharp. “It is his job to care for all his subjects and see to their safety.” I do not share with her that he and I might have different opinions on how best to achieve that.

“Besides,” Louise continues, as if Charlotte had not interrupted, “Beast will let us feed his horse apples.”

“Ah, if only I’d known the way to win your heart was to let you feed my horse.”

I give them each one last hug, then turn to Tephanie. “You are all right with this?”

“Of course, my lady. It will be hardest on you. Here.” She thrusts something into my hands.

It is the embroidery she’s been working on. Slowly, I unfold the delicate white linen and find it embroidered with the brilliant red and green of a holly bush. My eyes sting and my vision blurs.

“It’s so you have something to wipe your face with, when you need it. I thought the red holly berries would hide the blood.”

“Thank you.” The words come out in a whisper. I give her a quick, fierce hug and press a fleeting kiss upon her cheek before pulling away.

And then there is nothing left to say or do but escort the small group down the stairs to the side door. Beast, the accompanying queen’s guard, and Yannic are waiting with the horses already saddled. Because of the castle’s visitors yesterday, only a handful of grooms are about—?and their eyes are still filled with sleep. When the girls have been safely mounted with Tola and Aeva, I turn to Beast. I open my mouth but cannot find the words to say goodbye.

He grins. “Do not worry. I will charm any obstacles we encounter with my good looks.”

I smile past the lump in my throat and shake my head at his nonsense.

He brings my hand up to press his lips gently against my wrist. “I have ordered Lazare to remain here. I cannot leave you utterly alone.” He pauses, growing solemn. “They will be safe, Sybella.” His eyes are full of everything he cannot say. “I swear it.” At his words, I feel a presence, almost as if Saint Camulos himself has stood in surety of Beast’s vow.

* * *

When I return to my room, I go to the small trunklet that holds all my most valued possessions. I lift the lid to put Tephanie’s handkerchief in with my other treasures, stopping when I see that the holly twig I carried with me from Rennes is still as green as the day I picked it, the berries just as vibrantly red. I reach out and stroke my finger down one of the shiny green leaves and find some small sliver of hope. Perhaps Mortain holds some mysteries in life, as well as death.

Chapter 89

am ready when the page arrives, informing me that the king has summoned me to his chambers.

I rise, wondering if a decision has already been made or if I am going to be allowed to present my case. With the girls having safely escaped this trap Pierre has set for them, it is far easier to face whatever comes with a calm heart.

When I arrive, the king is there along with Pierre’s lawyer. I do not know where Pierre found him, but surely he is one of the most respectable-looking men to ever have served the d’Albret family. Whether he is new to their service or simply part of the outer circles that I was never privy to, I don’t know. Nor do I know how much of me and my history within the family he is aware of, but he is decidedly discomfited at my presence, which is a small victory.

However, my spirits dip when I see that the queen is not in attendance, but the conniving regent is. If Pierre’s lawyer’s arguments do not sway the king to his cause, the regent will do her best to sway the king from mine.

A sense of grim foreboding settles over me.

I stop before the king and make a deep curtsy. “Your Majesty.”

His bejeweled hand waves me to my feet.

“You wished to speak with me?” I have decided to act as if I am unaware of what is going on, instinct telling me it is the least threatening way to present myself to the king.

“As you may have heard, your brother has claimed you and your sisters should be in his care, not serving the queen. I am committed to putting forth the crown’s justice, but to do that I must hear all sides before making a decision. Monsieur Fremin, you may go first.” He turns to the lawyer expectantly.

“The matter is simple, Your Majesty. The Lady Sybella, Lord d’Albret’s sister—”

The king holds up a hand. “I thought she was the Lord of d’Albret’s daughter.”

The lawyer nods. “I’m afraid her father has taken a mortal wound and has not regained consciousness in nearly a year. The duties and responsibilities of overseeing the family and its holdings have fallen to Pierre, the eldest surviving son.”

The word surviving cuts deep. Julian. Would the lessons he learned at the end have made him a better overseer of the d’Albret domain than Pierre?

“I am sorry to hear of Lord d’Albret’s injuries and will pray to God that he is healed soon.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” The lawyer almost succeeds in keeping the impatience out of his voice. “During the fall of Nantes, the Lady Sybella took her sisters from her father’s custody and brought them to Rennes.”

“Where she served the duchess,” the king interjects.

“That is what we have been told, Your Majesty, but we have no way to confirm that.”

“I am confirming that.” The king’s voice is brusque and dismissive.

“But of course, Your Majesty. Nevertheless, the Lady Sybella did not have her father’s or brother’s permission to leave their custody, nor did she have permission to remove her sisters from their care.”

“Why did she do so?” The question comes from the regent.

“We do not know, Madame Regent. Lord d’Albret is most anxious to ask her that same question.”

“Could it be,” the king offers, “that she thought it a great honor to serve their duchess?”

There is a warning note in the king’s voice, but the lawyer is not perceptive enough to hear it.

“Surely that is for their father or brother to decide, not the Lady Sybella.”

There is silence as the king eyes the lawyer with displeasure before he turns to me. “Lady Sybella. How do you address these charges?”

“Charges, Your Majesty?” My heart sinks like a dropped stone. I am not here to make my case but to address charges?

“Your brother claims that you took your sisters from his home without his permission. Is that true?”

I fold my hands demurely in front of me. “No, Your Majesty. I did indeed have permission. It was given to me by my brother Julian, who was the eldest surviving son at that time.”

The lawyer all but rolls his eyes, as if I am some imbecile they must indulge. “But, Your Majesty, why would this brother give such permission? It makes no sense to send two young girls off on their own with no escort save an elder sister.”

The king indicates I may speak. “Your Majesty, it was a time of great political upheaval and confusion. D’Albret had unlawfully taken the city of Nantes from the duchess by force. As you must know, any city under threat of siege is not a safe place for young women.”

“That is true,” the king concedes.

“But your father was the one in command,” the regent points out.

“Yes, Madame, but

everyone knows how difficult it is to control men when they are in battle, how unsafe the cities are, especially to the innocent. For our safety, my lord brother instructed me and my sisters to leave. Unfortunately, both my father and Pierre were absent.”

The lawyer sighs. “Where did they go, pray tell, with an entire city to put to order?”