The Trahiad Page 13

  She watched Darthyn and Elizabeth closely to see any signs of movement. After a time, she watched their chests rise and fall with the steadiness of sleep. She quietly shut the door and then turned back to the figures to ensure the motion hadn’t disturbed them. She wasn’t sure why she was being so cautious—she had already incapacitated the guard outside the door and the only other guards in the palace wouldn’t search up here for another few hours. She had learned a lot about their rotation over the past year of surveying the palace.

  But she knew it was important to be methodical to avoid any potential mishap. Better to be extra cautious than to be caught, she thought.

  She was grateful that frequently the Scots had left their drapes open wide, so she knew exactly what was in the room, and where they were located. And she had seen Elizabeth’s nightly ritual on dozens of occasions. She knew exactly where to go.

  She fingered the ring on her neck and stepped forward, angling toward the large wardrobe that contained Elizabeth’s jewelry. Her steps were soft and made only the faintest noise as she tiptoed across the carpeted floor. She paused every few steps to regard Darthyn and Elizabeth’s sleeping forms, but they never stirred.

  I’m too quiet. There is no way I will alert anyone.

  She reached the wardrobe and reached for the handles.

  Locked.

  She reached inside her cloak and pulled out her lock pick and began working on the lock. It clicked open with a subtle twist. She replaced her lock pick and opened the wardrobe doors.

  The wardrobe itself was foreign territory to her. Even despite her surveying, she had never seen inside the wardrobe before, and seeing a wardrobe dedicated to jewelry was beyond anything Elisa could even comprehend. How could one person possess this much jewelry?

  But she figured that since the ring was the most important piece of jewelry that Elizabeth owned, that it would be inside another locked box or drawer somewhere within the wardrobe.

  Sure enough, right on the center shelf was another lockbox. She reached for it and tried to open it, but it was also locked. She retrieved her lock pick and began working again. It was more difficult—she was pretty sure this was the latest lockbox on the market—but after a few minutes it clicked open. I am known as one of the best thieves in the Trahiad after all.

  As it opened, the fake ring caught the faint light in the room and shone brightly from inside the box. She was astonished at how accurate the forgery was. Adrian may not have very many redeeming qualities, but he is quite the jeweler!

  She reached inside and cupped her fingers around it.

  Then the door to the room exploded.

  Damon burst through the doorway, the shards of wood from the door splintering around him and filling the room with debris. He thrust his torch into the air and quickly lit the doused torches, illuminating the room instantly.

  He was momentarily distracted when he realized he had forgotten to don his armor in his haste to rush upstairs, but the Templar Wine he had ingested was raging within his veins. He felt his emotions flaring. He could sense the emotions in the room.

  Darthyn sat up in shock, disoriented.

  Damon could taste the anxiety and fear emanating from Elizabeth.

  Damon could feel the urgency of the other guards below rushing toward them as they heard the commotion he had caused.

  But he ignored them. He focused his emotions instead inwardly. As he did, he felt his senses enhance. He felt his muscles strengthen. He felt his mind quicken.

  He looked at the intruder and felt a wave of relief.

  Not the dragonling, Morgar.

  He reached out to sense who it was he was facing, but he felt nothing.

  It confirmed his suspicions. Dragonshadow. He regarded the figure. It was a human—or of human origins—that stood just about six feet tall, and muscular and agile from the way it was standing with its legs in a defensive stance and dagger held at bay. He could tell the intruder was trained, and probably deadly. He also noticed how the intruder had slight curves that were unbecoming a man.

  I’m facing a woman. I need to be extra vigilant. She’s not wearing Draestl armor, but not all Drahiad Templars do.

  He regarded his opponent one more time, then charged.

  Elisa stumbled backward as the door exploded inward.

  Then the Templar appeared. She remembered hearing him called Damon, and she remembered how afraid of him she was even when he hadn’t been focused on her.

  Now—he looked like a walking executioner.

  She watched him survey the scene like a trained assassin and then focus his attention on her.

  She felt a shiver rise up her spine.

  She looked at Darthyn and Elizabeth, who were still just barely waking and very disoriented, and felt herself more afraid of them finding her in here in what looked like the act of stealing than facing this deadly Templar. She couldn’t bear the thought of them changing their opinion of her. There wouldn’t be enough time to explain what she was doing. That she had stolen from them a year ago and now she was trying to make it right. It would only look like one thing, that she was trying to steal from them.

  I have to get out of here before they recognize me.

  So she looked for a way to escape.

  She could dart for the cracked window, but she could hear the shouts of the guards outside.

  She could rush for the door, but Damon stood in the way.

  I’m trapped!

  She took a deep breath and tried to steady her emotions. Then she turned back to Darthyn and Elizabeth and locked eyes with Darthyn. He recognized her, and she saw a look of betrayal and pain fill his eyes.

  She felt her emotions enhance. Anger flooded into her. Fear flooded her. But most of all, she felt the loss of love. She tried to ignore her feelings and push them away, but she realized now that the respect she had gained for Darthyn over the years had truly turned into love. And she lost it because of her choices.

  Her emotions erupted. They burned inside her. She suddenly felt everything in the room. Her senses enhanced. She felt more powerful. She felt in control.

  Her emotions continued to build until they overwhelmed her. She had to release them.

  She turned toward the Templar, lowered her dagger, and charged.

  Damon was shocked.

  First, when he recognized the thief. That’s bloody Elisa Ander, Darthyn’s little project.

  But then more so when she charged him.

  One moment she was standing at the wardrobe, caught in the act of stealing what he assumed was the ring she had tried to steal in Paigon Square all those months ago. But in the next moment, she was suddenly near him, her knives blazing.

  He had only seen one knife when he had first encountered her, but another materialized out of thin air and they struck with deadly accuracy.

  He barely had time to bring up his sword to parry one and spun as he narrowly avoided the second dagger thrust.

  I wish I was in my bloody armor!

  Another flurry of dagger strikes came, and he parried one after another.

  He found himself on his heels and cursed that Darthyn—a master swordsman himself—was watching him. I’m sure he’ll have a few jokes when this is over. But he used the onslaught as a way to position himself better in the room. He started moving backward and strategically moved toward Darthyn and Elizabeth. He couldn’t see Darthyn’s sword—though he assumed it was nearby—but Darthyn didn’t look like he would engage. Damon figured Darthyn was more disappointed than worried from the look on his face.

  No, it was Damon’s job to protect the Scots, so he circled until he was between Elisa and the Scots.

  As he gained position, he noticed that his arms were tiring—Elisa was a formidable opponent—but he could also see signs that Elisa was tiring.

  Her strikes became less frequent and lacked the strength of the preceding strikes.

  Damon focused his energy within, conserving it as he parried. He continued to absorb her barrage of attac
ks, knowing that he could win the battle of endurance. And as he defended, he watched for the moment to strike.

  He knew it was only a matter of time.

  Elisa’s arms burned as she continued to attack. All she wanted was to abandon this place and to get away from Darthyn and Elizabeth. Forever. She wanted them to forget that this had ever happened. To forget that they caught her stealing.

  But Damon wouldn’t stop defending, and Darthyn wouldn’t stop staring at her—hurt and disappointed.

  Her strikes continued to slow. She knew she was running out of energy, which meant she was running out of time. She tried to keep her breathing steady, but each breath required more energy and it was difficult to catch her breath as she continued to fight ferociously.

  I’m running out of time, I’m running out of—

  Suddenly one of her daggers was knocked out of her sweaty hand and it went clattering onto the floor. The sudden change in direction knocked her off balance, so she tried to shift her weight but when she did she over-corrected.

  She felt herself falling and knew she had to do something. She looked at Damon—who smiled softly at her—and for some reason the smirk irritated her more than anything else.

  That little prat was toying with me this whole time! She realized.

  Anger flooded into her as she felt ashamed. What did Darthyn think this whole time while he was watching his pet Templar toy with me!

  She somehow caught her footing, and then leapt forward, her dagger leading the way.

  Toy with this!

  She wanted to smile as Damon’s expression changed from enjoyment to shock, but she didn’t have time. Her dagger headed toward his face.

  Damon tried to counter, but his sword was committed in another direction. There was nothing protecting him.

  Elisa moved in for the strike. She had never intended to kill him, but she had a clear shot, and enough anger to commit. He had never expected that she would have been able to catch her balance and attack in the same motion. But she had. Now she had only a moment to decide if she should strike him down or not.

  “Stop!” Darthyn suddenly yelled from the bed.

  Elisa decided and pulled back from her strike.

  Her momentum was already committed, and it caused her to stumble into Damon.

  Damon dropped his sword, caught her, and when he stopped her momentum, he tossed her to the ground.

  Elisa looked up at him and glared. “You know I could have just killed you!” she spat at him.

  “Only one of us is on the ground, dear,” Damon said with a smile.

  Elisa felt anger flash. “On the ground? Did you not just hear me, you little Templar? I let you live! I could have sunk my bloody dagger into that bloody smirk on your face!”

  “So lovely,” Damon said with another smile.

  “Enough,” Darthyn said as he climbed out of bed. Elisa was grateful he was in a nightgown.

  He walked over to her and reached out an extended hand.

  Damon moved to intercept, but Darthyn raised another hand to stop him.

  “We will not fight,” Darthyn commanded as he reached his hand out again, gesturing for Elisa to take it.

  Reluctantly, Elisa took it, and Darthyn pulled her to her feet.

  “Elisa Ander,” Darthyn said patiently. He let go of her hand and began staring at her.

  The other guards finally arrived, but as they rushed to the doorway, Darthyn quickly sent them away. “Go back to your stations, Damon has this under control,” Darthyn commanded.

  “That’s not what I saw,” Elizabeth said from the bed.

  Damon blushed.

  Elisa watched the exchange fondly. Elizabeth is teasing him.

  “Still, Guards, go back to your station,” Darthyn said. Then he glared at Elizabeth and shook his head disappointingly at Damon.

  “What?” Damon said defensively. “I had the entire thing under control. She was so intense I figured I should let her at least think she was fighting well.”

  Elisa bristled with anger. “Think? Why I—”

  “He’s coaxing you, Elisa, ignore him,” Darthyn said.

  “We all know you beat him,” Elizabeth added.

  Damon was about to scoff, but Darthyn raised his hand again, motioning for him to be silent. Then Darthyn sat down on the bed and stared at Elisa in deep thought.

  Elisa shifted her feet uncomfortably. Darthyn stared at her. And stared. And stared.

  She wondered what he was thinking about for so long and had some serious doubts. Is he starting to judge me? Is he mulling a sentence? Don’t I have to go into the courthouse for this? He can’t decide right here, can he? Dear Creator, what is going on!

  But Darthyn said nothing. He just stared at her.

  Finally, she couldn’t handle it anymore. “Listen, I know this looks like I was stealing, but—”

  “Looks like?” Damon said, cutting her off. “You had your hand around the ring. You were stealing.”

  “Not true,” Elisa said. “The truth of the matter is, last year, I actually stole Elizabeth’s ring. I concocted the entire plan. I faked losing my balance so I could pull the ring off while I was falling, and I had manufactured a fake one for you to take so you didn’t realize I had stolen the genuine ring. The plan went off perfectly, and you now have the fake ring.”

  They looked at her as if she had just made up the wildest story ever.

  “It’s true!” Elisa defended. Then she reached into her shirt and ripped off the genuine ring. “See? This is Elizabeth’s proper ring. What you have is the forgery.”

  “Let me look at that,” Damon said as he stepped forward, curious. He studied the ring intently and then whistled. “Darthyn, are you looking at this? It looks very close to the proper one. What a forgery!”

  “It is the genuine one!” Elisa exclaimed. “The one Elizabeth has had for over a year is the fake one!”

  Damon raised a skeptical eyebrow.

  “Trust me!” Elisa begged.

  “Trust you?” Damon asked incredulously. “Trust you? You were just caught trying to steal from Elizabeth Scot, in her own room—that you broke into, I might add—in the middle of the night! And you claim that you stole from her before! And we all know you’ve committed other crimes. Like stealing Darthyn’s seal? I could list them for hours. And you are probably guilty of dozens of more unclaimed crimes! Trust you?”

  “Well,” Elisa defended, but trailed off. It does kind of sound stupid to ask them to trust me, doesn’t it?

  She didn’t know what to do. “I promise, Darthyn and Elizabeth. I made a mistake, and all I want to do is fix it. I hate that I stole from you. You both have been nothing but kind to me, and I took advantage of that. I feel horrible, and I want to make it right. Please, let me make it right.”

  Darthyn seemed to consider what she said. Elizabeth smiled at her softly. Damon tapped his foot impatiently. I can’t imagine that one ever trusting me.

  She waited for what felt like an eternity before she spoke again. “Please, trust me.”

  Darthyn shook his head. “Enough,” he finally said. “I’ve made my decision. Elisa—enough with the stories. The facts would state that you came in here to steal Elizabeth’s wedding ring.”

  “But I—” Elisa began.

  “Enough!” Darthyn declared, raising a hand to command silence. “Elisa, this is a serious accusation, and one that would end in the gallows I’m afraid. So please,” he said. Then softer he added, “please listen.”

  She shut her mouth and nodded.

  “But, this is only an accusation right now. From Damon,” Darthyn said.

  Damon looked at Darthyn questioningly. “Accusation? Excuse me, Darthyn, but she’s holding the real ring in her hand and has a forgery on that necklace. Accusation? More like—I busted her!”

  “Only an accusation that has been proven to be false,” Darthyn said.

  “Huh?” Damon asked, confused.

  But Darthyn moved toward Elisa. “Elisa, give me
the rings,” he said.

  She handed them both over without hesitating.

  The first one—the actual forge—Darthyn lifted first. “This is the ring that was in the wardrobe. The one you came to steal. But,” he paused as he raised his hand to stop Elisa from arguing. “You didn’t end up stealing it, because it’s still in its rightful place.” He walked over to the wardrobe and put it back into its lockbox and shut the lid. “There, you never stole it.”

  Elisa protested, but Darthyn raised his hand again. But you are making a mistake. That’s the forgery!

  Then he walked back to her. “This forgery should be confiscated,” Darthyn continued. “But I’m impressed with the accuracy of it. Therefore, keep it, Elisa. Keep it as a reminder to never steal again,” he finished.

  Elisa wanted to explode. “Thank you, but—”

  “Elisa, you need to listen,” Darthyn said, cutting her off again. “What you did was very serious, and we need to get it through your head to walk away from this life. For good. I will only allow you to walk away free if you agree to two conditions.”

  Elisa began to argue, but he cut her off with a raised hand.

  “None of that. Now listen,” Darthyn exclaimed.

  Elisa saw Elizabeth roll her eyes, then smile softly at her. Elisa smiled in return.

  “First, you need to promise me that you will do something, anything, of value rather than running around with that riffraff. Join the Order! Join the military. Do something. Anything!”

  Elisa opened her mouth to argue, but he silenced her again.

  “Why not? You just bested one of the best Templars who has ever gone through the Order. Why not join the Order?” Darthyn asked.

  Elisa had to hide her smile as she saw Damon stiffen and start to argue.

  “And my second condition. Wayd—my son—gets home a few days from now. You must meet him,” Darthyn said.

  “She will not!” Elizabeth said harshly. Then she softened as she turned to Elisa. “No offense intended, Elisa, but… well… you must understand,” Elizabeth tried to reason.

  Elisa smiled despite herself. She never imagined that the third person in line to the throne would try to set her up with his son!