“I will come after supper,” she told
him softly, even as her mind began to
swarm with various ideas. What if
Vulcan didn’t listen to reason? Could
she allow her friend to die because
her husband was too thick-skulled to
see that Malcolm was innocent?
No, she could not.
***
It was the day before Malcolm was
to face the deadly blade of the
executioner and Jaisyn was at her
wit’s end. She’d pleaded with Vulcan
once more for the sake of her friend,
but he’d remained firm on his
decision. His idea of showing mercy
was giving Malcolm a quick, painless
death. She’d done everything, had
even gone as far as to compare this to
the murder of her brother. Vulcan had
blanched at that, but had been quick
to remind her that Malcolm was not
her blood, and that her brother had
been killed because he’d been caught
in the midst of a battle.
Jaisyn ran a hand along the wet
waves atop her head and sighed. It
was already afternoon. One thing was
certain: Vulcan would not change his
mind. She could no longer depend
upon her husband to save Malcolm.
And no more could she sit and watch
as Malcolm’s head was separated
from his body. Malcolm had been one
of the stable factors in Jaisyn’s life
since the moment she began training
with him. Not only had he helped her
skill at sword fighting, but he’d taught
her things people were too afraid to
teach a woman, let alone a princess.
Like how to swear properly, and how
to fight dirty should the need arise.
He’d been her confidant, her friend,
the person who knew her better than
most.
She sank down further in the tub of
cool water and shook her head. Two
maids were in the room with her,
waiting to wash her hair and to assist
her with anything she needed. Jaisyn
picked up the soapy cloth on the side
of the tub, dipped it into the cool
water and placed it on the back of her
neck. She did not know how long she
remained in that position as her
thoughts swirled with possibilities but
she was pulled from them by one of
the maids.
“Majesty, would ye like me to wash
yer hair before the water grows
cold?”
Jaisyn removed the cloth from her
neck and nodded. “Yes, please.”
The maid went about doing just that.
The water was cool as it landed on
her scalp but Jaisyn did not mind. The
shock seemed to fuel her brain cells
and as the maids lathered her hair
with the flower-scented soap, Jaisyn’s
mind worked furiously. She did not
even feel their attentions to her scalp
and had to be nudged softly to know
that they were finished.
***
Jaisyn watched the thick darkness
fill her chambers as the sun made its
descent. After supper, she retired to
the chambers she’d been occupying
since her return to Lytheria. Her own
chambers. Varian had taken the solar
for himself, so she and Vulcan now
occupied separate chambers. It was
just as well. For one, Jaisyn did not
wish to look on her husband as he
refused to listen to reason, and two,
she could not bear the thought of him
touching her and making her body
respond when her friend was to die
soon, by his command.
She sent up a prayer for this
arrangement as she stepped from her
bedgown and rummaged through the
chests of clothing she’d left in
Lytheria, looking for dark breeches
and a dark tunic. She did not have to
search long. After donning those, she
moved to the chest containing a sword
and scabbard. Attaching those to her
hip, she peered into the looking glass
and pulled her thick hair into a tight
bun. Rummaging once more through
her chests, she found a dark shawl,
which she wrapped around her head,
obscuring every inch of hair.
She was ready.
***
Malcolm accepted that it was his
fate to die by the executioner’s blade.
He’d mentally prepared himself for
what was to become morning, and
had just settled against the hard cot for
the last sleep from which he would
wake. He was dozing when he heard,
as though it were far off, a commotion
outside of his cell. Pushing himself up,
he looked around in the dark, and
strained his ears. After what seemed
like hours, his cell door swung open
and the dim light of a torch flooded his
cell.
Jaisyn stepped into the doorway,
dressed from head to foot in black
cloth, and beckoned him forward. In
addition to the torch, she held a sword
in her other hand.
“Hurry. We have little time.” He
scrambled to his feet and shrugged on
his tunic before leaving the cell. The
soldier who guarded him was sitting
on the ground, a thick length of rope
wrapped around his torso and his
arms. He didn’t look angry, though.
And he wasn’t yelling for help despite
not wearing a gag.
“Take his sword, Malcolm,” Jaisyn
said, pointing with one to the scabbard
braced against the wall. He did as
commanded, attaching it to the belt
around his waist and latching it tightly.
Before moving away, Jaisyn knelt
by the soldier and spoke softly. “I
cannot let an innocent man die. Do
not worry. You won’t be blamed.”
With that, she strode toward the
staircase that would take them to the
first floor. Malcolm followed, silent,
and wondered if he were caught in a
dream.
They moved swiftly through the
castle. When Jaisyn doused the torch
and tossed it aside as they reached the
first floor, he knew that this was no
dream. Jaisyn was attempting to free
him. He was both excited and afraid
at the same time. If he escaped, she
would no doubt be held accountable,
and an unpredictable Vulcan was a
deadly one.
They dodged the warriors that
patrolled the hallways, hiding in
doorways and in the dark shadows of
the castle until they finally crossed the
courtyard to the Temple. Jaisyn and
Malcolm walked stealthily to the back
of the Temple, pushing open the dark
door that would lead them into a
small, unlit room. They’d reached the
secret passage.
Jaisyn stilled before him, turned and
spoke for the first time since the
dungeon. “The opening of the passage
will alert the guards. We must hurry.
I’ve left a horse for you a mile from
here. You have water, bread and
cheese to last the night, and sufficient
coin to get you to Mitherie.”
With that, she turned and ran her
hand across the wall until she felt the
slight dip in the stones. Pressing
against it, she leaned into the wall.
Malcolm added his weight as well. It
wasn’t long before they heard a slight
scrape. Jaisyn retrieved her hand
immediately
and
stepped
back.
Malcolm followed suit. The door
rumbled as it came forward before
groaning and swinging outward.
As soon as it was open, they began
to run, sidestepping trees and dips in
the ground. They’d run this path
numerous times as children, when
Jaisyn had been giving her father and
her governess grief. Jaisyn led the way
and sent up a prayer to the Goddess
that it was a moonlit night. They’d
been running for long minutes before
Jaisyn slowed to a stop and veered off
at brisk walk to the right. Malcolm
followed, tripping slightly over fallen
branches, until they stopped once
more. Jaisyn whistled into the silent
forest and he heard a snort, followed
by rustling leaves.
“This way,” Jaisyn said softly,
heading in the direction of the noise.
They came upon the beast shortly
thereafter. He was as big as his sire
and midnight black in color. Jaisyn
had tied him loosely to a tree. She
untied the rope that held him.
“Acer’s saddled and ready to go,”
she said, patting the beast’s sides and
running a hand along his neck. He
snorted appreciatively. “He’s as fast
as Ajax and can get you to Mitherie in
less than a week if you ride hard.”
Malcolm took the reins and began to
lead him to the pathway that would
take them into the countryside. Once
there, he turned to Jaisyn, the girl
who’d been his closest friend, the
woman he still loved. “I don’t know
how I’ll ever be able to repay you for
this, but I’ll begin by saying thank
you.”
Jaisyn smiled slightly, although it did
not reach her eyes. “You don’t have
to thank me. I couldn’t let an innocent
man die. Go.”
“And thank you for Acer…I know
how much Ajax means to you.”
Malcolm swung onto the stallion, who
didn’t so much as budge as he did so.
She was about to reply when they
both heard the sounds of men
shouting.
“Go, Malcolm!” she whispered
urgently. He turned on Acer, looking
back in the direction of the voices.
***
“Come with me to Mitherie,” he
said suddenly, and Jaisyn’s eyebrows
crinkled in confusion. Did he not
understand
that
she
loved
her
husband? That she wished to stay with
Vulcan? Malcolm suddenly shook his
head at her facial expression and said,
“Vulcan won’t forgive you this. It’s
treason. Come with me. The Katarals
will make sure you are safe.”
She took a step away from him.
“No. I won’t be responsible for
another war, Malcolm. Vulcan will
forgive me in time. Now go!”
With that, she took a quick step
forward and brought her hand down
on Acer’s flank. He snorted angrily
and took off. Malcolm looked back
once before he flattened himself
against Acer. Before long, they were
out of sight and Jaisyn felt her body
relax. She stared at the path ahead for
long moments, hoping she had been
right about Vulcan. He would forgive
her in time. She had done nothing
wrong except save an innocent man.
She sighed and tugged the scarf from
her head. The sounds of men shouting
were getting closer.
Turning in their direction, she stood
still and awaited her fate. Her husband
would
understand.
He
had
to
understand. As the soldiers came into
sight, a question pricked at her mind.
What would she do if he didn’t?
***
Vulcan had been unable to sleep.
His mind was replaying comments
from Jaisyn as she tried to convince
him to release Malcolm. She’d leaned
over the desk in the study, and stared
at him full on, while asking if he
would be able to live with himself if he
killed an innocent man? She’d also
added that if he allowed Malcolm to
die, she would never forgive him.
When she’d left, he had been unable
to think of anything else except his
wife, Malcolm, and how she would
feel about Malcolm’s death. The
justices
had
already
sentenced
Malcolm and as they acted on his
behalf, it would make him seem
unstable if he were to give pardon
now. He sighed and stared into the
soft flame at the hearth.
Jaisyn had been cool to him since
she found out he’d been responsible
for injuring Malcolm. She did not
speak to him unless she was pleading
for Malcolm and she certainly did not
visit his bed. He was aware that if he
tried to visit hers, she would probably
attempt to injure him.
He ran a hand across his face and