BOOK 3: One True Destiny

Chapter 4

                                                                                                   A Clue

Inside the council chamber is Francois with Mary of Guise. The siblings are having a private discussion regarding the Scottish queen. The Duke is about to begin his intensive search for his niece. Clearly, whoever had abducted Mary possess enough influence and means to perform such an act. "Think sister, think harder. I need to know what happened the night before your daughter disappeared." Says the Duke. "Francois, I cannot think of anything that is out of the ordinary that night. I have been trying to recall every detail that can provide us any clue as to who or why someone will abduct her." She replies as she wipes her tears. Francois then stood up to pace the room hoping that by doing so, he will be able to formulate speculations that may serve as their guide to find the young queen. Then Mary of Guise remembers the unsigned letter with a red "X" mark received by Francis, the one containing Mary's signet ring! She immediately stands up, runs to her chamber, then comes back with that same letter in her hands. "Francois, this is the only thing that the perpetrators had left to let us know that Mary has been taken." She hands the letter to her brother. Upon seeing the symbol, the Duke's hands begin to tremble. He immediately identified what the red "X" mark stands for. It is the mark of a secret organization known as "The Order," a group of highly skilled mercenaries! Whoever is behind Mary's abduction is much more powerful than he had anticipated! He suddenly becomes fearful for his niece. "Sister we must act quickly! We must ask for assistance from France. Mary is taken by men who pledge no allegiance to any country or to anyone but the promise of extreme wealth and power! These group of men are responsible for changing the fate of nations for centuries. If their price have been met, they do not hesitate to do what is asked of them!" He exclaimed. "If fortune is what they want, then why didn't they ask us for ransom?" Asks Mary of Guise. "Because The Order had already determined that whatever Scotland has to offer cannot match what has already been given for her abduction. I believe that whoever has enlisted The Order's service had offered them a deal that they cannot refuse... A deal that is promising than a huge amount of ransom."

                                                                                              The Order

Francis and Bash have been summoned at the court room by King Henry. They are uncomfortably sitting beside each other as they wait for their father. "I am still Mary's fiancé regardless of what had happen that night." Francis says as he turns to his brother. "We are now both the prince of France. We now have the same entitlement. Mary will have France's support by marrying either one of us. So you see little brother, she can marry the man of her choosing without breaking the alliance." Bash replied. Before their discussion can go further, the King together with Francois arrived. "My sons, we firmly believe that a group of mercenaries known as The Order is responsible for Mary's abduction. These are not ordinary mercenaries. The Order is responsible for the rise and fall of empires; they are highly organized and well connected." Francis stood up. "Father, are you trying to tell us that we cannot do anything to get Mary back?" The King took a deep breath. "We do believe that The Order is working for someone who possess extreme power... Someone more powerful than a king." The Duke of Guise walk towards the brothers and says, "Your Highnesses, for us to retrieve Mary we must immediately open negotiations to acquire truce with King Philip of Spain." They are both curious as to why they must unite themselves to the man who is responsible for the thousand deaths of French soldiers and whose France's loaded enemy. "Why King Philip? Of all the Kings in world, why must we acquire his assistance? Francis asked.  "We all know that the Spanish king can lead us all into grave danger!" He added. "He is the only individual who truly knows how The Order operates because he used to be one of them." King Henry answered. "We need his guidance and his connections for us to save Mary." He added.

                                                                                            The Lost Queen

Mary cannot tell if it is day or night. Her abductors had kept her tied and blindfolded. When she woke up, she could sense that they have moved her from that deep, dark space into a vessel of some sort. She can feel the ground moving and hear the familiar sound of waves, they are now sailing! They are taking her somewhere else! She is traveling to an unknown destination with unfamiliar company who refuse to utter a word, not even a single word! Mary is lost and all alone in the middle of the ocean, far away from Scotland... Away from Francis and Bash. She begins to sob. Suddenly, she felt that someone had just slightly opened the door, perhaps to see if she is doing well. "I am Mary Stuart, the Queen of Scotland. I beg whoever is responsible for my abduction to answer me! Who are you?! What is it that you want?!" She cried. But instead of an answer, all she heard is a closing door. Mary is now beginning to completely lose hope; her hope that she will be reunited with her loved ones rapidly fades as the waves carry her away.