Madelaine
Hamish whistled as I stalked in, watching me squat under Sarah’s tree who blinked at me through her stealth gear. Hamish too was dressed in blacks and forest greens, his sword flying black silk meaning he worked under no banner. He wore a thief’s hood, one he tugged at now. I knew he never much liked stealth missions – though trained as one of the few male retainers in Black Swan ranks. For Sarah, it was returning to who she truly was.
“He knew it was me.” I sighed, pulling the scarf down from my mouth, “but the knowledge terrified him.”
“You showed off.” Hamish said, crossing his arms, “that shot….” He looked meaningfully at me, then stood, brushing dirt off his pants.
Sarah smiled in the half light from the trees, stretching along a tree branch. “William looked ill as you left.”
I shrugged and glided up the tree to her, watching Captain finish his pleasantries before the small army departed. Playing both sides of the river was something I had never been allowed to do before. I had been on a few missions to earn my stars as a Swan, but never worked my own.
It was elating.
“How did Lord Mickal’s son take his father’s demise?” I asked, turning to look down at Hamish. He had stayed long after we had departed for Captain’s camp, blending into the guard house to survey the consequences. It had not been a messy death, or a particularly painful one. Mickal had been sitting by deaths door for months, being fed a concoction to weaken his heart by the residing Swan belonging to Lady Mickal. I had simply opened deaths door by injecting a double dose. Mickal had known who we are, had known his own end. And like the pitiful man he was – had spared no fear or bribery as he died.
“No one suspects anything.” Hamish shrugged, “he was not young anymore, and a heart attack can happen to men his age.”
“He was fond of fatty meats,” Sarah added with distaste, “any healer could pinpoint multiple reasons for his death.”
I nodded, satisfied. It was the Black Swan way to leave no trace of our involvement. It was when we made noise that made men quiver. Like Captain.
At the thought of the sea rogue, he walked into our waiting space, looking around for us. As I replaced my scarf Sarah jumped, landing by his feet. Hamish walked out from the trees to stand by him, and I slid down the tree to appear before him. To Captain’s credit he did not flinch or cry out, only waited for me to acknowledge him. He was one of the few who had met faces of the Black Swans, once running the thief’s guild in the capital. Much had changed. But the respect and experiences he had for the Black Swan’s was not one of them.
“Thank-you, Captain.” I smiled.
“Why side with Westfield?” He asked, “Mickal was much easier to control – and he has the best blacksmiths in the country.”
“There will always be weak men,” I shrugged, “but Westfield sees much, we will need this man to go forward.”
“I have heard…”
I frowned, “speak.”
“Nothing you do not already know. That Westfield is not who he says he is – that he was placed in his position by those underground.”
My mind raced. Why had my mother not mentioned this? Why was I not told? Nothing flittered across my faced as I gave him a long look, “whispers have a way of leaving men dead in the streets.”
He looked downcast, “I look forward to the day the Swan Mother returns to her throne.”
I shoved my bewilderment away for the moment, eyeing him, “when it was easier for you?”
Captain grinned under his modest pose, “she balanced the day with her night. Her hands were always willing to catch wayward souls. Truly, I am a servant to the dark queen and the good times she granted me.”
“Fancy words.” Hamish smirked, “you liked the gold.”
“Aye lad,” Captain agreed, turning to him, “and now there isn’t food. Even if I had the gold.”
“Go in peace.” I sighed, motioning with my hand, “but depart from here. Westfield is an ancient city – best not waken it for the little gold you were promised from a dead man.”
Captain bowed his head respectfully, “I bid you farewell then, I hope in warmer climates.”
“It’s never warm climates for the likes of us.”
“Ah, to be compared to the black Swans is a day a man can find rest.”
We remained silent as he turned to walk away into the surrounding forest, heading back to his base. I caught sight of hair the colour of flames amongst the leaves, and then he was gone.
“To the castle then.” Hamish sighed.
“I hate sewers.” I mumbled. Sarah grinned, swinging up into the trees.
It had been a good day.
.OoO.
“Enter!” His voice rumbled from beyond the slightly opened door. Tomas had left it open on purpose, knowing he would not be able to hear my light knocks. The careful door knocking pattern he shared with William was not something I wanted to imitate or ruin.
I entered the small study, my gown feeling heavy in contrast to the skin-tight thief’s gear I had been wearing for the past two days. It was simple with little embroidery or multiple skirts. I dreamt of a day when women wore trousers as a fashion statement. I wondered if we would lose the simple elegance of a dress if we did.
Closing the door, I turned to look at the noble sitting in his armchair. He looked straight at me; his report hanging in his fingers from where he stopped pretending to read it. Tilting my head, I curtsied to the floor, knowing he watched my every move. Mind games heaped onto mind games.
“He’s dead then.” Tomas said evenly.
I inclined my head, moving closer. To treat him like a fool would be a step backwards, though my training screamed in my ears.
“But you won’t tell me much more than this?” He asked mildly.
As I slowly shook my head he sighed, beckoning me closer. Frowning I came closer, unsure. He looked up at me with those gorgeous blue eyes, taking my hand and pressing it against his cheek, then his lips.
“I am intoxicated Madelaine.” He murmured, “am I drugged? Tell me truthfully.”
Bewildered by his actions I shook my head, “not by me in any case.”
He sighed, pulling me closer, “I believe you. I have something to tell you.”
I looked down at him, his arms wrapped around my middle. “I have something to ask you.”
He nodded multiple times, looking up and catching me again with those beautiful eyes. I felt like a bird in his grasp, his arms seeming thicker than my legs. I was reminded how small and physically weak I was to him. Should he choose to I would be at his mercy, his anger easily snapping my spine.
But he held me tenderly, as though I was made of glass that could both shatter and cut him. He let me go, standing to go to the door. He opened it, leaving me in the room and shutting it behind him. He swiftly returned, shutting, and locking the door.
“No one will disturb us. If you are concerned for your safety…” he left the sentence hanging, ironic amusement clear on his face. He evidently believed me to be more of a threat than he. He walked over to the small fire, taking out china cups and a tea pot. As he set the tea to boil, he beckoned me over to a chair, gently pressing me into it before returning to his armchair.
“What question do you have of me?” He asked, “it is hours from dinner and William is looking to my duties. You have my entire attention Lady Elwood.”
I smiled slowly, providing just enough feral in my eyes for him to become alert. I wondered if he thought me a monster, for all his adoration. He knew I was a trained assassin; he had seen me cower Captain with a thought.
But he had secrets I needed to know. Secrets that for me to trust him I needed to know. A small voice whispered in my mind, scrambling to be heard. So you can love him.
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