Mercy's Prince (27 page)

“We
won’t be able to claim our prizes until tomorrow anyway,” Shannon told Merry. “Your
bread, of course, will have been eaten by then, but I’ll collect my picture and
you can help me hang it up for Ruddy.”

Keeping
an eye on the drunken men, Valerian gestured for the ladies to precede him. They
made their way back to Ruddy and Kieran and then returned to the quiet manor
house.

***

Caelis
strode into the woods near his uncle’s castle, carrying his crossbow and a
handful of bolts. His skin felt too tight, as if it would burst from his anticipation.
Soon he would have the whelp’s head and could take it to King Orland, along
with the body of the unnamed assassin who had killed the prince. Then the
grieving king would have no choice but to name Caelis heir.

“Sir
Caelis?”

He
stopped at the unexpected voice of one of his men and turned to face him. Young
Norris was probably not much older than cousin Lewes, but Lewes had assured
Caelis of his loyalty.

“What
are you doing here, Norris?” Caelis frowned at him.

Norris
wrung his hands. Beneath a shock of dark hair, his brown eyes were troubled.

“Is
it true you sent an assassin to kill the prince?”

Caelis
clenched his jaw before answering. He set down the crossbow and the handful of
bolts.

“How
did you know that?”

Norris
swallowed noisily and broke eye contact. In a branch overhead a bird cackled.

“I
was walking through the room when you were speaking to the one-eared man.” He
held up his hands, pleading. “I swear I didn’t mean to hear.”

“Then
why are you questioning me?” Caelis lowered his voice. “Didn’t I tell you never
to question me?”

Norris
took a step back, his eyes darting left and right.

“Yes,
sir, but you never mentioned killing the prince. I thought we were working
toward southern independence.”

Caelis
pulled his hunting knife from the sheath on his belt. Norris turned to run, but
Caelis was upon him, knocking the younger man to the ground. Caelis grabbed a
hank of hair and jerked up his head. Before Norris could take a breath to cry
out, Caelis slit his throat.

“I
told you,” Caelis said as he pushed himself to his feet. “Never question me.”

Merry
lay in her comfortable bed, hugging to herself all of yesterday’s memories. She
had worn her first pretty dress, and she’d been surprised that wearing it had
made her
feel
pretty, too. She had won a prize for her bread, even
though the greatest prize for her had been to watch the enjoyment on everyone’s
faces when they tasted what she’d made with her own hands.

But
more amazing still was having the opportunity to learn not one, but two dances.
Kieran and Valerian were both good teachers, and it was impossible to choose
which one she had most enjoyed dancing with. Although they were very different
young men, not only from each other but compared to the Brethren, their
companionship helped fill the emptiness in her heart.

Later
today, she and Shannon were to fetch the prizes for their entries in the
competition. What kind of prize would hers be? She had never received any kind
of honor or recognition, and it was thrilling to imagine the possibilities.

Merry
got out of the bed and smoothed the covers. For a moment she considered putting
the pretty dress on again, but she didn’t want to soil it in the kitchen. Besides,
Shannon had not told her she could keep it, only that she could wear it to the
festival. After they brought home their prizes Merry would brush off the dress
and take it back to Shannon.

She
combed and braided her hair and reluctantly put on her old clothes with the
indelible stains. Those blood stains were a constant reminder that all she loved
was now dead.

***

Valerian
decided to wear the royal surcoat to Ruddy’s court. He recognized he had the
opportunity not only to aid Ruddy in matters of law, of which Valerian was
considered a scholar, but his presence as Crown Prince of Levathia would help
the knight establish his authority here, especially for those who might think a
wooden leg was a sign of weakness. Yet while Kieran tied the laces on the
sleeves, it was hard not to think that he was being imprisoned inside this
garment.

“Kieran?”

“Yes,
my lord?” He yawned.

“While
Ruddy and I are at court this morning, I want you to be especially vigilant. I
know some in the crowd could become unruly if they do not like the judgments
rendered.”

Kieran
stifled another yawn.

“Of
course, Sire. I will be my usual vigilant self as soon as we eat something.”

Valerian
nodded, suppressing a smile at Kieran’s sleepiness.

“I’ll
see if anyone else has awakened yet,” he told his squire.

When
he entered the great hall, Merry came in from the kitchen wearing her stained
apron over the old homespun dress. A smear of flour on her face made her look
endearing. But when she saw him dressed in the royal purple, she froze. He came
near enough to
See
her.

“What’s
the matter, Merry?”

You
look like a prince today.
She curtsied and would not look up at him again.

“Merry.”
He made his voice as gentle as he could. “I am a prince every day. But a prince
is still a servant to the king and ever to the Most High.”

She
raised her eyes a little and studied the dragon emblem on the surcoat. Made of
spun gold thread, the dragon was
rampant
, raised upon its hind legs, and
breathing fire. Finally, she spoke.

Is
the dragon the symbol of your family?

“Yes.
Alden the Great, who founded our royal line three hundred years ago, was called
the Dragon King. He chose this emblem for the house d’Alden.”

Merry
reached behind her and pulled her braid over her shoulder. She lifted the end
to show him the wooden clasp. He hadn’t paid attention to the painted design: 
a small blue flower on a white background.

This
is a balmflower, my father’s emblem.

“Was
your father a Healer, too?”

She
nodded and let the braid fall. Tears filled her eyes.

“I’m
sorry, Merry. I didn’t mean to cause painful reminders.”

She
wiped her eyes and gazed into his.

It’s
not your fault. Everything brings painful reminders. I only hope the grief will
lessen in time so I can make a new life somewhere.

“The
strength of your grief shows the depth of your love. I think we carry some
grief with us always when those we love go before us.” Valerian swallowed to
ease the sudden tightness in his throat. If only he could see Waryn one more time
to tell his brother how much he did love him, and how sorry he was that he hadn’t
saved him.

When
he glanced back at Merry she wore a slight smile.

“What
is it?”

Not
only are you a prince and a Seer, you are a Healer with your words.

He
shook his head. She gave him too much credit.

“If
I’m sometimes able to speak the words most needful, it’s only because I’ve read
so widely from the writings of those much wiser than I.”

Valerian
would have liked to continue their conversation, but at that moment both Kieran
and Ruddy entered the hall. Ruddy was dressed in a fine linen shirt with a
black velvet vest and breeches. He wore a silver chain of office around his
neck. Though he walked with the wooden leg, he used a cane for balance.

“Sir
Rudyard, I am pleased to see you on this fine morning.” Valerian smiled at his
friend.

Ruddy
made an awkward bow as he leaned on the cane.

“Your
Highness. I trust you slept well?”

“Very
well, thank you.” Valerian turned to Merry, who backed away and briefly met his
gaze.

I
feel like a scullery maid in the presence of all this finery and polite manners.
I had better finish making breakfast.
At that, she fled to the kitchen.

“What
ails the lass?” asked Ruddy.

“Clothing,”
said Valerian. “Or rather, a lack of appropriate attire.”

“Shannon
has six trunks full o’ clothes she canna wear,” Ruddy said with passion.
Apparently this was a longstanding conflict with his wife. “I’ll make sure she
gives Merry an entire new wardrobe. It’s the least we can do after what she did
for our son.”

            *         

Valerian
sat beside Ruddy at a table set up in the village square. On Ruddy’s other side
a scribe recorded the proceedings, and standing nearby was the blacksmith, who
acted as bailiff for the day. The “courtroom” had served as the dancing area
during last night’s festival. Now, however, the mood was quite different.

Ruddy
had already pronounced judgment in the first three cases. One accused thief had
been dismissed for lack of evidence, and the other ordered to restore threefold
the amount of eggs he had stolen from a neighbor’s henhouse. The merchant who
used false weights was sentenced to three days in the pillory. Even now, two
men were leading the weeping man across the square to the wooden device. Several
children ran after holding clods of dirt, an egg, and an overripe fruit to
throw at their hapless victim.

Valerian
had never been so thankful to be a Seer. He hadn’t realized until today how
useful this talent would prove to be in determining a person’s guilt or
innocence.

As
the final case came forward, Valerian studied the complainant and the accused. The
stout woman wore a bandage on her face and folded her hands piously across her
ample girth. Her slight, bewildered husband appeared frightened. Ruddy spoke to
the woman.

“Step
forward and state your name and village.”

The
woman minced closer to the table.

“Hildara
from the village of Pennybridge.” She spoke with a haughty tone. When she
shifted her eyes to Valerian he
Saw
her contempt for both he and Ruddy
as northerners.

“State
your case, Hildara of Pennybridge.”

She
lifted her chin and glared down her nose at Ruddy.

“I
have been married to this man for four years. During that time, he has
mistreated me, and recently he has turned violent. He cracked my head with a
mallet.” She cupped the side of her bandaged head.

“What
was the provocation?” Ruddy folded his hands on the table.

The
woman drew herself up, clearly offended.

“There
was no provocation. I was minding my business when he came up from behind and
hit me. I lost consciousness.”

Valerian
glanced at Ruddy for permission and leaned forward.

“If
he came from behind, how do you know who hit you?” he asked the woman. When she
glanced at him again, Valerian
Saw
that she had fabricated the whole
tale.

“Well.”
She paused to choose her words. “When I came to myself, he was standing over me
with the hammer, threatening to hit me again.”

“What
kind of hammer did he use? Wooden or metal?” Valerian kept staring at her.

Sweat
beaded on her forehead, though the morning was cool and the sky cloudy.

“Why,
it was metal.”

“If
you were struck in anger with a metal hammer to the side of the head, then you
should not be alive. A metal hammer is a weapon of war, you know.” Valerian
rested his chin on his palm.

The
woman wiped her hands on her dress.

“Perhaps
it wasn’t metal after all. Yes, now that I consider again, it was a wooden
hammer.”

“What
is your husband’s occupation?” At Valerian’s change of subject, she blinked.

“A
tailor.”

“And
he has a wooden hammer because?” He raised his brows, inviting her answer.

She
opened and closed her mouth without answering.

“Perhaps
a tailor uses a wooden hammer to beat out the cloth before he stitches it.” Valerian
smiled. He heard a few chuckles in the crowd that had gathered.

“Remove
your bandage, Hildara of Pennybridge,” Ruddy ordered, “so we may see the damage
caused by this wooden hammer.”

For
the first time she became frightened. She shook her head.

“My
lord, please, I can’t remove the bandage or the bleeding will start afresh.”

“Bleeding?”
Ruddy frowned. “Did the hammer actually pierce the skin, then?”

“N-no,
my lord. But it made a powerful fierce bruise, it did.”

“Then
let us see it.”

The
blacksmith stepped forward and pulled off the woman’s bandage. There was no
sign of injury. Those in the crowd who could see murmured among themselves.

Ruddy
leaned close to Valerian and spoke so only he could hear.

“If
you will show her to be lying by way of your Sight, then it should put the fear
o’ God into some of these people.”

Valerian
rose to his full height. The royal dragon was visible to all. The woman
trembled now.

“Hildara
of Pennybridge, come forward.” She moved closer to the table. Valerian locked
eyes with her. “Answer me truly:  Did your husband strike you with a wooden
hammer?”

The
woman didn’t answer right away, but finally she nodded.

“Yes,
my lord.”

“You
are bearing false witness against your husband. I am a Seer, Madam, and know
that you are lying.” Valerian made his face as stern as possible. Several in
the crowd began to point and whisper.

Hildara
covered her mouth with her hands. Her eyes grew wide.

“I
see you know the penalty for bearing false witness.” It made Valerian sick in
his stomach to think about it. In his heart he felt it cruel; with his rational
mind he realized the punishment needed to be harsh in order to act as a
deterrent to others.

But
the woman’s husband stepped forward and fell on his knees. He clasped his hands
together.

“Your
Highness!  I plead for mercy on behalf of my wife.” For a man of such slight
stature, he spoke with a strong voice.

“You
would ask mercy for someone who tried to destroy you?” Valerian frowned.

“She
is my wife, for better or for worse. Her madness comes and goes. If you cut out
her tongue, I believe it would break her mind. Is there not a lesser punishment
that would serve to teach her a lesson without permanent damage?”

Valerian
was moved by the man’s plight. For his sake he was willing to grant mercy. He
leaned down to confer with Ruddy.

“What
think you?” whispered Ruddy.

“I
think the poor man has suffered enough.” Valerian glanced again at the
longsuffering husband. “Either the pillory or a dunking should be sufficient
punishment. And you will be forewarned about her in future.”

“Let
me pass sentence then.” Ruddy pushed himself up to stand beside Valerian. “The
prince has heard your plea, and has recommended leniency. For the crime of
bearing false witness, I sentence Hildara of Pennybridge to three days in the
pillory.”