ALMIRA THORN- Knowledge of Another Kind. [Editing]

Chapter 24 -"Ladies and Gentlemonsters...."

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

 I will fear no evil,

For you are with me;

 Your rod and your staff,

They comfort me.”

“Remember the plan, Almira. Aries, Tom and I take down the first layer of the guards surrounding the office in the private quarters while the rest of you do your luring in the main hall.”

 Lucian spoke, his voice hard and his gaze focused. He seemed in his element, talking of death and danger, his soldier side coming to the forefront of his mind. Aries had told us our aim and I hated it. We would not kill any of the Order; we’d simply gain a book within Rohan’s office and leave, we’d only capture one guard if it came to it. At first I’d been livid, thinking this book was not worth the danger ahead, but Aries had been adamant that the book was too important and would be worth the souls of many. Tom had objected to being parted with me, but reason won over and Aries and Lucian needed a shield should the attack go wrong.

Now, we stood outside the carriage, the grand mansion of Rohan’s estate gleaming and elevating as if into the sky while we stood with tingles of anticipation, our dress clothes clinging to us as we gathered for our last meeting.

Lucy’s dress was a silk blue, the colour emphasizing her eyes and hair. The sight was remarkable, no longer was she wearing her plain grey dress, she looked like the lady she deserved.

The men’s dress clothes were the same, black tuxes and breaches occupied their bodies, their masks already on, a black so vivid, it made the purple of ray’s eyes too beautiful to look.

Like the men, my dress was black. The silk shining over my body and brushing the floor, the neckline showing my collarbones and allowing the cool air to kiss along my skin as my hair was gathered into a loose tie. Lucy had decided to hand me a gold mask, its detail beautiful and bright, reminding me of the gold statues in the paintings at Papa’s house. Carefully slipping it on, allowing the ribbon to attach at the back of my head, I gave one last look at the others before taking Lucy’s arm and guiding her into the house, never more ready to face these demons.

*      *       

I felt uneasy, afraid. But I dare not let it show on my emotions, Papa would have scorned such weakness. But this was always the way forward. As I guided Lucy along the candle- lit path, I felt the feel of my leather breeches under the dress; the short swords tightly strapped to my thighs, the knives tied to my shins and knew I was ready. The others did not know of the attire under my large dress, they’d think I was planning to declare a one-man army even if I was prepared for one.

“Names.” The voice announced. I looked at the guard by the door and noticed the hardness of his jaw, the set of his eyes, his straight face. All his emotions were shielded, blank to my analysis, but I knew he was a fighter, anyone who had been trained as one would know the stance he held. The posture of his shoulders and spine, the way he presented himself breathed soldier.

Lucy stepped forward, unlooping her arm from mine and showing a confidence that amazed me.

“Alice and Jane Tarkington.” She replied, announcing the fake names Aries had given us. To our knowledge Aries has invented the identities, but from the look the guard gave us, I began to wonder if they were more real then I first thought.

After a moment, the guard nodded his head, gesturing for us to continue on and I saw Lucy’s shoulders visibly relax. So she’d been just as on edge as I.

As we made our way inside, the sound of music and conversation flooded our ears, the reminder of the ball the night of my first kill, arose to the forefront of my mind, both reminding me of the courage and fear. But I’d learnt something about the two…bravery comes from both, for courage is not the absence of fear, it’s having that fear but choosing to go on regardless.  Fear allows you to remember something is worth the emotion; something is precious enough to fear for, whether it is your life, or that of someone else’s.