Beckoning Light (22 page)

Naomi told us that the best entrance to take into Bellgard was through the side wall closest to the mountain on the west side. We would have to scale the wall and enter the grounds in the dark. Charlotte was going to try to get released from the prison and find a way to leave one entrance to the inner castle unguarded. She would hopefully be able to get down to the dungeon after we arrived and release the prisoners.

I was skeptical when Naomi told me that our success depended on Charlotte getting out of the dungeon. “Okay, back up, how is Charlotte getting released?” I asked.

“Her Gerard does not want her in the dungeon; I am sure of it. No one can believe he consented for her to go down. I think he was so desperate to get her to calm down that he was willing to do anything,” Naomi explained.

Liam didn’t hide his alarm. “So how did she get down there in the first place?”

“She staged a fight and yelled at her Gerard and Blake. She even slapped him when he tried to kiss her. She got him where he is sensitive by telling him that their love was fake,” Naomi said, clearly impressed with Charlotte.

“Wow!” There was nothing wrong with her slapping a boy who tried to kiss her. Liam and I smiled at each other when Naomi described the slap. We could both picture her doing it.

“I heard all this through a servant who was listening and watching from the doorway,” Naomi explained. “Blake had to stop Calvin from going to the dungeon to retrieve her. It is really impressive how she can fight that bond. At first, I doubted that she would listen to me, but I think she can sense when someone is speaking the truth, and she senses that Blake has bad intentions,” Naomi said, running her fingers along a bow. I didn’t say anything in response; I just looked ahead trying to stay calm.

We walked for several hours, first through an open clearing, and then through a dense forest, before Percy suggested we stop for lunch. I wasn’t particularly excited about eating more of the usual food, but I was ready for a break. Before we could find a place to stop, we heard hoofbeats, and we all became still.

“Samantha, get up that tree and find out who is coming,” Percy ordered.

Samantha scaled a tree immediately. “It is five uniformed men on horseback. They are going to come right by us,” Samantha called down. 

I tensed. Although I knew that there was the chance we would encounter resistance on our way to Bellgard, I wasn’t prepared. I unsheathed my sword and prepared to attack. Naomi changed into her cat form and stood in the middle of the forest path hoping to get the men to stop. 

It worked. As we waited in the forest, I heard one of the men yell, “Keep your eyes open, stay alert.” The men slowed to a stop right next to us.

Liam took out the first two men with his crossbow, just as Samantha jumped out of the tree and knocked a third man off his horse. I watched as Monty bounded over to that one, immediately placing his sword to his neck. It took me a few seconds to react, but I jumped out of the cover of the trees and went after one of the two remaining men, propelling him from his horse and leaving him wounded on the ground. Meanwhile, Tomas had taken out the final man. Satisfied that the fallen men would be no problem, I walked over to where Monty stood over the wounded man. This man was dressed differently than the others, in a more formal black uniform.

“Norman, who sent you here?” Monty bellowed.

“Monty Winthrop, when we were sent out to get you, I did not really believe it. It has been almost twenty years, brother.”

“You are no brother of mine. Tell me what your orders were that led you here,” Monty commanded.

“We were ordered to kill on sight,” Norman said. I shuddered; things were more serious than I thought.

“Who issued the order?” Monty demanded. “Was it the new Gerard?”

“Do you really think the new Gerard would order the family of his Essence killed?” Norman asked, laughing. “Of course, it was Blake.”

“But the Gerard consented to the order?” Percy walked closer to where Monty stood.

“As Blake would say, better to seek forgiveness than permission. The Gerard has no idea about the order. That is why he sent me and not one of the new Guardians.”

“Tie him up!” Monty ordered angrily, as he looked down at the man with hate-filled eyes. “I cannot believe you were once one of Emma’s Guardians.” Norman, perhaps sensing there was little to be gained, said nothing. 

We silently set to work moving the men and securing the former Guardian to the tree.  Monty said that by a code of honor he couldn’t kill the Guardian, but I could tell that he wished he could cause him more harm. Without anyone saying a word, we started to walk again.

As we got closer to Bellgard, I decided to ask Monty and Percy more about the role of a Guardian. “You keep saying that a Guardian is tasked with protecting the Essence, but what does that mean exactly?”

Monty nodded at Percy, letting him answer the question. “A Guardian is willing to do anything to keep the Essence safe, even if it means sacrificing his own life. Traditionally, the Guardians were seen as separate from the rest of the military. They would intervene in affairs if it would keep peace, and therefore protect the Essence. If Energo remained strong and at peace, then the Essence had little to fear.”

I wondered what this all meant for me. “You said
traditionally
; is it different now?”

“From the beginning, Blake has treated the Guardians almost like generals,” Monty explained. “Using them as leaders of the elite military he created, the Bravado.”

“Is he going to try to do the same thing with Charlotte’s Guardians?” Liam asked, walking along beside me.

“Yes. Although the Guard is receiving the usual Guardian training, I believe that he is treating them like officers of the Bravado,” Percy explained, before looking over at Naomi for collaboration.

“From what I have seen, Blake already has all of the Guardians in agreement, even the Gerard,” Naomi added.

“What exactly is the military doing?” I asked.

“They have been building up weaponry in anticipation of the Essence’s return. They intend to continue with their military campaigns against the other worlds, still under the guise of protecting Energo,” Percy explained.

As useful as it was to learn more about the present situation, it also made me more anxious about our plans. I didn’t like the idea of Charlotte being in the middle of such a militaristic state. I was proud of her, but I was also frightened for her. I tried to understand the emotional turmoil she was going through, but I knew that I couldn’t. I just hoped we would get to her soon. 

Chapter Twenty-Six

Charlotte

As soon as William left, I looked over at Ruth, although I didn’t need to physically see her to know she was giving her support. The connection between us was growing as I learned more. Despite the severity of the situation, I felt that in some ways I was gaining a grandmother figure in my life, something that seemed even more important now that my mother was gone. I definitely had the need for more female role models in my life. Ruth assured me that getting out of the dungeon would be easy.

It seemed like an eternity, but it was likely less than ten minutes before I heard two sets of footsteps hurrying down the stairs and into the hallway. I saw the guard first, clearly leading the way, and then Calvin was in front of me.

“Oh, Charlotte, what have I done?” Calvin took in my dirty and worn form.

I put my hands through the opening in the door. “It doesn’t matter, Calvin.” Calvin immediately took both of my hands in his and kissed them.

“You are giving me your hands! You are not turning away from me!” he exclaimed, relief clear on his face.

“Calvin, I’m sorry. I need to be with you. Please take me away from here,” I pleaded.

“Yes, immediately.” He nodded to the guard, who instantly opened the door. I went to take a step out, but faltered, stumbling; Calvin caught me in his arms and picked me up. 

“You are so weak. It is my fault. Can you forgive me, Charlotte? I will take better care of you. Please find a way to forgive me.” Calvin held me close to his chest, seemingly oblivious to how dirty I was.

“I know.” I smiled up at him, feeling wonderful just being with him again.  Ruth was right; this part was a lot easier than getting down into the dungeon. Showing Calvin that I loved him was much easier because all it required was honesty.

Calvin addressed the guard again before walking away from the cell. “Hurry ahead and have Tara prepare for Charlotte.”

“Yes, sir.” 

I didn’t dare look back at Ruth as Calvin carried me away, but I knew that she was smiling. I snuggled into Calvin’s chest as he carried me up the stairs; I felt his heartbeat accelerate. He kept looking down at me, trying to read my expression. He didn’t put me down until we were up in my room, and only when Tara had the bath ready.

“I guess I need to go,” Calvin said, looking toward the bath. “Call for me when you are ready, Charlotte.”

“Calvin?” I called softly after he put me down.

He stopped on his way to the door. “Yes?”

“I need to ask something of you.”

“Anything.” I noticed he looked mildly nervous.

“Could we please spend some time alone this evening? That’s what I need more than anything,” I told him in a near whisper.

“Absolutely, Charlotte, we can dine alone and have all the time we need.” He smiled brightly.

“I can’t wait.” I meant it, and not just because things were going as planned.

I took a hot bath and had some tea. I studied Tara as we sat together and realized that we actually looked a little bit alike. She seemed so relieved to see that I was back and being nice to Calvin. She stood to leave. “I assume that you want to dine with Calvin in here? I will call for him.” 

Dressed in a light blue dress with a purple sash, I waited for Calvin and tried to contain my excitement.

Before long, there was a knock at my door. “Come in,” I called.

Calvin entered the room and closed the door behind him. He wore a bright smile on his face that only increased when he saw that I was smiling too. I sensed that he had been nervous that I might have changed my mind again.

He walked over to where I stood and pulled me close to him. He immediately kissed me like he had never kissed me before. It was urgent, passionate, and completely full of emotion. I could think of nothing while we kissed; it was just such a relief to be with him again. When he finally pulled away, he took both of my hands in his and put them on his chest, and we just stood there for a moment.

“I love you, Calvin.” The words came out with no warning, although I had been feeling it, I hadn’t planned to say it aloud.

“I love you, Charlotte,” Calvin said lightly. “You do not understand how good it is to hear you say that again. I knew that you never stopped loving me, but somehow I needed to hear it.”

Calvin kissed me again, taking me off guard. He moved away when a knock at the door announced our dinner. He insisted that we eat, concerned that I get sustenance after my time in the dungeon, but he held my hand throughout the meal, making it tough to cut the food. A servant entered again to take the cart, and then quickly excused herself. Calvin followed her out, and I heard him tell whoever was outside that he wanted no interruptions.

He joined me where I sat on the edge of the bed and pulled a wooden box from his pocket. He took out a small crystal rose, made of the same material as the orb and key on my necklace.

“Happy birthday, Charlotte,” he said softly, as he carefully lifted my hair and unlatched my necklace. He strung the rose on the necklace before replacing it around my neck. I picked up the chain and examined the new pendant; it was beautiful.

“Do you like it?” he asked expectantly.

“I love it; it’s perfect,” I told him warmly, feeling almost recharged by being with him again.

We lay down on the bed, and I relaxed in Calvin’s arms with my head on his chest. I didn’t move for a while. I just listened to Calvin’s even breathing while he absently played with my hair and traced my face with his fingers. I finally realized that I had to bring up the less pleasurable part of the conversation.

“Calvin?” I asked tentatively.

“Yes, love?” he said without moving.

“I’m scared.”

“Scared? Is this from your experience in the dungeon? Did you get hurt?” he asked in alarm, lifting up my face so he could look into my eyes.

“No. I’m scared that Blake is going to hurt me, retaliate somehow.” I knew my real fear was visible in my eyes.

“Charlotte, I would never let him touch you. Never. No one will ever hurt you,” he said gently.

“How can you be sure?”

“I am the Gerard; I have authority. I respect Blake’s advisement, but that advisement will not pertain to you. I learned that the hard way. He is not to be allowed alone with you. No man is now. I noticed the night of the ceremony that he made you nervous, and it was my own fault for letting him address you without me,” Calvin said, and I could tell that he meant it. “Does that quell your fears?” he asked when I didn’t respond.

“Yes,” I said quietly. “It’s just so strange being here, away from my family. I have such strong emotions, sometimes it seems overwhelming.” Without knowing it, I had started to cry. Just as he had the morning I had been thrown in the dungeon, he used his finger to wipe away my tears.

“I hate to see you sad. Please, tell me how to make you happy.”

“Is my family coming to get me?” I phrased it as Ruth had instructed, but even without the coaching, I would have known what to say.

“Yes, they have been spotted and are on their way,” Calvin admitted.

“Please, Calvin, please don’t let anyone hurt my family and friends.”

“Charlotte, I will do what I can to avoid hurting them, but we have to subdue them. They cannot leave with you. But you do not want to leave, do you?” Calvin asked, watching me intently.

“I don’t want to leave you,” I said honestly.

“Now, as much as it pains me to say goodnight, I have to attend a meeting, and you need to sleep.”